INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 8-21 August 2016

The Rio Olympics finished off with a magnificent closing ceremony as Brazil handed over the Olympic games to Tokyo. Among the news articles we included in this bi-weekly bulletin, some relate to the currently Olympic games while others discuss match-fixing issues in South Africa (cricket and soccer) and in Malaysia (soccer). We also draw your attention to an unusual case in the United Kingdom regarding a tennis player who was believed to have been poisoned by a gambling syndicate, or a rival player/coach to sabotage a match. The UK Police have launched a criminal investigation as the disease, transmitted by rat urine is very rare in the UK.

As an addition to our resources, the International Olympic Committee and INTERPOL have recently published a handbook on Protecting Sport from Competition Manipulation. To access this handbook, please use the following link:

https://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/Publications2/Leaflets-and-brochures/Joint-report-INTERPOL-IOC-Handbook-on-Protecting-Sport-from-Competition-Manipulation

SENTENCES/SANCTIONS

Brazil

This has not been a good Olympics for AIBA, international boxing’s governing body. Multiple fights have been judged suspiciously, and there is a prevailing sentiment that not everything is on the up and up. Now, AIBA is sending home a number of Olympic judges and referees, apparently hoping to quell some of the discontent. Here’s AIBA’s statement regarding the dismissal of the judges and referees, via Sky Sports: “The concerned referees and judges will no longer officiate at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” the body said, adding that the results of all the bouts would stand. “AIBA will not shy away from its responsibilities and is fully committed… [to] always acting in the boxers’ utmost interest,” the statement continued. Today’s action will do little to appease the boxers who feel they have already been robbed of a fair competition. On Monday night, Russian heavyweight Evgeny Tishchenko won a gold medal after defeating Kazakh fighter Vassiliy Levit. Tishchenko won via a unanimous decision, despite the fact that Levit seemed to have dominated the fight; Tishchenko’s victory was met with gasps and boos from the fans in the arena. There was more uproar yesterday, when Irish boxer Michael Conlan was apoplectic after another fishy decision by the judges cost him a preliminary bout against Russian boxer Vladimir Nikitin. Conlan remains understandably peeved today. There are still a number of bouts, in which medals will be on the line, to be fought this week, and each one will likely be under intense scrutiny. But even if the rest of the fights are totally on the level, it will do little to remove the stink that has already fallen over these games. Dismissing judges in the middle of an international competition is about as close as AIBA can get to admitting that shenanigans were afoot, and it’s certainly not the best way to follow up the 2012 games, where this went down.

Source: Tom Ley, "Olympic Boxing Judges Sent Home Amid Allegations Of Match Fixing", 17 August 2016, Deadspin https://deadspin.com/olympic-boxing-judges-sent-home-amid-allegations-of-mat-1785404354

Malaysia

KUALA TERENGGANU: Three former T-Team players were each sentenced to a day's jail and fined RM10,000, in default a year's jail, by the Sessions Court here today for giving false testimony during a match-fixing trial involving the team two years ago. Judge Mohamad Haldar Abdul Aziz handed down the punishments on Mohd Nadzmeer Hisham Mohammad, Mohd Hafiz Mohd Noor and Mohd Hanifzam Muda after they pleaded guilty to committing the offence. Kuala Terengganu City Council enforcement personnel Mohd Nadzmeer, 25; Mohd Hafiz, 26, who is now a policeman, and Mohd Hanifzam, 26, a labourer, were charged with giving the false testimony during the trial between 9am and 1pm on May 6 and 7, 2014. The testimony was related to T-Team matches with Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. They were charged under Section 27 (2) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years, or both, if found guilty. In mitigation, the three former footballers, represented by Othman Bakar, said it was their first offence and that they had families to support. The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat.

Source: "One-day jail, RM10, 000 fine for match-fixing", 17 August 2016, Astro ASwani https://english.astroawani.com/sports-news/one-day-jail-rm10-000-fine-match-fixing-114287

South Africa

JOHANNESBURG – Cricket South Africa (CSA) has banned four players for their role in match-fixing during the 2015 RamSlam T20 season. Thami Tsolekile has been banned for 12 years. Pumelela Matshiwe and Ethy Mbhalati have both been banned for 10 years and Jean Symes has been banned for seven years for failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code. All four were also found guilty of failing to disclose the full details of matters evidencing a breach of the Code by another participant; and failing to co-operate with the investigators by knowingly providing false information to them. CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat, announced the four players admitted guilt for their role in the match-fixing with banned former Proteas batsman Gulam Bodi. "It is our stated position that any form of corruption in the game will be dealt with severely. We will leave no stone unturned and we will do everything in our power to protect the integrity of the game." "Corruption is a very serious matter and for this reason we have devoted extensive time and resources to fully investigate every shred of evidence. We are still finalising certain aspects of the investigation."

Source: "CSA bans 4 players for role in match-fixing", 8 August 2016, Eyewitness news https://ewn.co.za/2016/08/08/CSA-bans-4-players-for-match-fixing

Monday, 22 August 2016