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Swimming Australia (SA) has called a special general meeting to avoid being kicked out of the sport's global governing body World Aquatics.
- Swimming Australia's president says its "standing in the sport is in jeopardy"
- An October 20 special general meeting will aim to vote on changes to the body's constitution
- World Aquatics says it welcomes the changes to the SA constitution
The meeting will vote on a change to SA's constitution.
It comes after World Aquatics threatened to remove SA's membership because of what it saw as the sport's governance problems.
"The message from the governing body is abundantly clear. If we don't make these necessary changes, then our standing in the sport is in jeopardy," Swimming Australia president Michelle Gallen said in a statement.
"These changes are aimed at our members and bringing much needed – and called for – change and stability to how our sport is governed."
Australia is now the number one swimming nation in the world after a dominant performance at the recent world championships in Fukuoka.
Australian swimmers won 13 gold medals among 25 overall to finish on top of the medal table while breaking five world records.
Australia's para-swimmers also had an outstanding world championships in Manchester, coming sixth on the medal table, in the team's best performance for a decade.
But the team's success has come while the governing body has been in turmoil.
Former chief executive Eugenie Buckley resigned in April after a power battle with the powerful state member organisations. Steve Newman is the acting chief executive.
Buckley replaced former Canadian swimmer Alex Baumann, who was in the role for just three months before resigning because of health issues.
Tracy Stockwell was removed as president after just nine months in the position and replaced by Dr Michelle Gallen.
Under SA's present constitution, there are nine member associations or "stakeholders" made up of the states as well as the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association and the Australian Swimmers Association – which is headed by Olympian Bronte Campbell.
The members have the power to make decisions about Swimming Australia, including electing board members.
In a statement, Swimming Australia said: "The changes will provide Swimming with a governance structure that aligns with its requirements as a member of World Aquatics and within the wider International Olympic Committee structure.
"The new constitution will also ensure more power to athletes, a stronger voice for athletes and coaches, while also delivering a broader voting base.
"World Aquatics has advised Swimming Australia that these are changes that need to be made and if the motion for the new constitution isn't passed then World Aquatics reserves its rights to consider further action against Swimming Australia in line with its constitution."
It's understood those "further actions" could include setting up a stabilisation committee to run the sport in Australia and ending SA's membership of World Aquatics.
That second threat could mean Australian swimmers like Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown, Kyle Chalmers and Emma McKeon would have to compete under a neutral flag.
The SA statement included a quote from the Executive Director of World Aquatics, Brent Nowicki, that said: "World Aquatics welcomes the changes to the Swimming Australia Constitution, which will give more power to athletes and a voice on the Board, while also delivering a broader voting base more closely connected to athletes and coaches.
"The changes will also allow for a modernised governance structure that aligns with the sport's requirements as a member of World Aquatics."
The special general meeting will be held on October 20.