Longstanding CBDA President Coaracy Nunes was removed from office late last month as part of an investigation into corruption and fraud.

The Public Ministry claim to have discovered "strong evidence" of overbilling, misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement.

The investigation has been fiercely criticised by the CBDA, who claim they were not giving a chance to explain alleged financial irregularities and that they would be forced to suspend salary payments and upcoming competitions as a result of the problems.

In turn, the Federal Public Ministry have called the CBDA argument "an attempt to distort the facts".

According to BestSwim.br, they also claimed the CBDA's suggestion that they had no opportunity to respond to allegations was "false information".

They cited a CBDA attempt to dismiss the case which was denied by a Federal Court.

Police also believe that one of the companies that the CBDA have done business with, Natação Comércio de Artigos Esportivos Ltda, is actually a front company used to illegally divert public money.

Four of Nunes' allies, including former vice-president Luiz Soares, were also ordered to be removed from office as part of the probe.

The CBDA have confirmed the removal of the officials in a statement on their website, but stated "nothing has yet been ascertained" and claimed they have had no time to "provide clarification".

Nunes, who has been in office since 1988, is also a member of the ruling Bureau of the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

FINA claim to have made an "immediate request" to the CBDA for more information on his removal.

They have vowed not to make a decision on whether he will be suspended from his position or become the source of an Ethics Committee investigation until this has happened.