Ministry silent on reasons behind PE teacher suspension U-turn

A decision by the Education Ministry to revoke the suspension of a State school PE teacher after just three days is shrouded in secrecy, as authorities won’t say the reasons behind the U-turn. Instead the ministry is insisting that it is following a decision taken by the Public Service Commission, as well as the advice of the Attorney General. The case involves multiple triathlon and duathlon champion Keith Galea, 30, who is also a physical education teacher at San Ġorġ Preca College, Blata l-Bajda. On April 10, Mr Galea was placed on “precautionary suspension” and half-pay by the Directorate for Educational Services in connection with a doping conviction. However, the disciplinary action was taken a month later, once he had been slapped with a four-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Organisation. Mr Galea had tested positive to banned substance stanozolol – a synthetic steroid derived from testosterone. His ban from all sports competitions will remain in force until July 13, 2021. However, on April 14, the same day that the Times of Malta ran a story that Mr Galea had been suspended from work, he learnt he had been reinstated. This was confirmed by Mr Galea’s lawyer, who...