A young Maltese swimmer studying at Plymouth College yesterday asked the courts to stop the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA) from processing any entries for men to international competitions.

Matthew Zammit, 17, together with his parents, Alan and Sandra, filed a warrant of prohibitory injunction and argued that just because he missed the National Championship, held in July, he was told he was not eligible to represent the country elsewhere.

Zammit, who won a scholarship to the UK college, said he was under the direction of top swimming trainer John Rudd who coached a gold medallist at the Olympics.

He said he trained five hours daily, six days a week while preparing for his A-levels.

Zammit said he received a letter in which he was notified that he was not eligible to swim in the 11th FINA World Champion-ships in Istanbul next month because he had not taken part in the ASA National Championship in summer.

He said that this decision went against the ASA statute and did not make sense when his scholarship was costing thousands and he was being told he was not eligible to represent his country in competitions.

He asked the courts to stop the ASA from processing any entries for men in international swimming competitions where Malta is represented until the matter is sorted out.