Swimming Canada questioned in Ottawa safe-sport hearing about CEO's departure

Swimming Canada was questioned Monday by a member of Parliament over its chief executive officer taking leave just over a year out from the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

The Canadian women's swim team's six medals accounted for over a quarter of the country's 22 medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and another half-dozen in Tokyo in 2021 represented a quarter of 24.

Multi-medallists Penny Oleksiak, Maggie Mac Neil and Kylie Masse, as well as breakout star Summer McIntosh, are expected to lead Canada's swimmers in the pool in Paris.

Waugh called last week's announcement of Ahmed El-Awadi's personal leave "a red flag."

Acting CEO Suzanne Paulins said El-Awadi took a personal health leave and that she was positioned to ensure continuity after her six years in Swimming Canada's leadership.

"Being with the organization and on the leadership team over the last several years, that was a conscious decision to protect and ensure that the continuity of the organization was maintained in these last 14, 16 months in preparation for the Olympics and Paralympics," Paulins said.

"All of our decisions are around protecting and engaging our athletes, our coaches, our staff in the next 16 months."

WATCH l Van Koeverden talks new safe sport recommendations:

El-Awadi appeared before a Status of Women safe-sport committee Feb. 2.

He was questioned that day about his time as head of Water Polo Canada from 2005 to 2013.

Four former members the Canadian women's water polo team sued the organization last year and alleged a toxic culture fostered by executives and support staff. The allegations have not been tested in court.

Both the Heritage and Status of Women committees have held regular hearings in recent months to address what federal