INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 26 December 2016 - 8 January 2017

In this edition of the bi-weekly bulletin, we have some articles regarding match-fixing in Australia. Another case of a young athlete charged with match-fixing continues to prove that young players are very vulnerable to competition manipulation. Finally, the Tennis Integrity Unit is stepping up in their fight against match-fixing with smartphone apps and warnings to young and experienced athletes.

The Integrity in Sports Programme is still involved in many events around the world in the upcoming month to raise awareness on the severity of match-fixing, among other crimes in sports.

INVESTIGATIONS

Australia

Brisbane teenager and reigning Australian Open boys champion Oliver Anderson has been charged with match fixing at a tennis tournament in eastern Victoria, as police continue to target alleged corruption in sport. The tournament was held at Traralgon in October and the 18-year-old has been charged with conduct that corrupts a betting outcome, Fairfax Media reported. Detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit (SIIU) took part in the investigation and police said bookmakers also assisted. It is still unclear how Anderson is alleged to have fixed the match, which occurred at the low-tier tournament. He is expected to appear in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on March 2. The charges come after former professional tennis player Nick Lindahl avoided a jail term for fixing a match and attempting to conceal the evidence earlier this year. Lindahl, 27, faced a maximum two-year prison sentence, but was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and a $1000 fine. Lindahl was the favourite to win a match at the Toowoomba Futures in 2013, but approached his opponent, Andrew Corbitt, offering to throw the fixture in exchange for $500. His highest singles ranking was 187 in May 2010. Rafael Nadal says the worst thing about Australian Open boys champion Oliver Anderson being charged with match-fixing is his age – 18...

Source: "Australian teenager Oliver Anderson charged with match fixing", 5 January 2017, The New Daily, https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/tennis/2017/01/05/australian-teenager-oliver-anderson-charged-match-fixing/

Chile

Instances of potential match-fixing cases in Italy with Marco Cecchinato at the center have come before, but there have been instances of the same abroad as well. In Chile two players are in the eye of the storm. The two players are Juan Carlos Saez and Ricardo Urzua are ranked 613th and 940th in the ATP Rankings respectively. In their respective singles matches played in the Talca Futures event from 28th November to 4th December, unusual betting patterns were recorded, which indicates that the matches could have been fixed. Saez lost to the 19-year-old Alejandro Tabilo (World No. 609). Tabilo admitted he has some doubts. "I was focused on my game, but it's true that Saez didn't play well. I don't know what happened to him." Asked if the match was fixed, he replied, "It's possible, but I am not sure about it. I don't want to speak about it." At the same time, you have to consider that Saez was playing his first match in three months where he didn't play because of a groin injury. "I practically didn't practice and I was at a level that wasn't enough to beat anyone. If the match is suspicious, show me proof. It's easy to judge, but I am innocent, I don't need money and I would never take the risk to get dirty money," said Saez, who will take action legally to protect his image. Probably Urzua will do the same. "I didn't receive any official statement, I only heard it through rumours." Meanwhile investigations are taking place in Colombia, where the Tennis Integrity Unit authorities listened to some players, and in Spain, where 34 people have been arrested.

Source: Gatto Luigi, "Two potential match-fixing cases in Chile!", 26 December 2016, Tennis World USA, https://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news/Tennis_Stories/39210/two-potential-matchfixing-cases-in-chile-/

Tuesday, 10 January 2017