A Portuguese sports arbitration court has annulled the recent elections of the national Gymnastics Federation, citing violations of democratic principles and transparency, and ordered a complete re-run of the vote.
The Tribunal Arbitral do Desporto (TAD) announced its majority decision, dated Monday and published Thursday, following a complaint by Ricardo Antunes. Antunes was a defeated candidate for the presidency of the Federação de Ginástica de Portugal (FGP) for the 2025-2028 term.
The court’s ruling specifically invalidates decisions made by the federation’s General Assembly Table (MAG) on December 15 and December 26, 2024. These actions had resulted in the re-election of Luís Arrais as FGP president.
Antunes had reported “serious irregularities” in the electoral process.
The initial election took place on December 15, 2024. Luís Arrais’s list secured 21 votes, Ricardo Antunes’s list 19, and a third candidate two, with six votes initially declared null.
FGP electoral regulations stipulate that a second round of voting is mandatory if no list achieves an absolute majority.
On December 26, 2024, 11 days after the initial vote, the MAG deliberated to validate two votes previously considered null. This validation increased Arrais’s total to 23 votes, securing an absolute majority and thus avoiding a second-round presidential run-off.
The TAD has mandated new elections for all social bodies of the federation. An Extraordinary General Assembly must be convened to initiate this new electoral process within 15 days of the court’s notification.
Luís Arrais has served as president of the FGP since 2020. Antunes had also been defeated in the preceding election.
The court’s decision also annulled a second round of voting for other council positions, which had taken place on January 11, 2025.