INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 20 February - 5 March

Over the past two weeks, we followed with interest worldwide ongoing investigations. In Singapore, a hearing took place for two Malaysian shuttlers who are facing six charges each for their involvement in match-fixing activities in badminton. In the wake of the case, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) announced that it will continue to work closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to protect the integrity of the sport. In Rwanda, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened a match-fixing probe on Rwanda Champions Rayon Sport over their preliminary Champions League match against Burundian side Lydia Ludic Academic played on 21 February at Prince Louis Rwagasore in Bujumbura.

In terms of sentences and sanctions, 58 people were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 30 months to 10 years for their involvement in the 2011 match-fixing scandal which rocked Greek football. Several of the sentences were suspended for three years, while a number of other individuals can avoid jail by paying five euros per day for the duration of their prison term. In Pakistan, Shahzaib Hasan received a one-year ban and a hefty fine for breaching the board’s anti-corruption code and his ‘role’ in a spot-fixing scandal that rocked the country’s Twenty20 League last year. Additionally, a former Bayern Munich player reveals he was involved in match-fixing in Brazil back in 2009.

In The Philippines, disturbing betting patterns cast a shadow on basketball league games. In Spain, La Liga believes the dismantling of a criminal organization and the many arrests earlier this year, has had a disruptive effect and a welcome return to normal on Spanish betting markets.

In the United States, two cases related to corruption in sport are being investigated. The USA Track and Field has placed its president on temporary leave during Department of Justice (DOJ) corruption probe into the awarding of the 2019 championships to Qatar and 2021 championships in Oregon, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating corruption in college basketball.

With tennis’s Independent Review Panel expected to report on the match-fixing crisis before the end of the month, the International Tennis Federation

announced today that it is reinforcing its safeguards against corruption, including a new partnership with Sportradar. Finally, Kenya's supreme sports body has made it mandatory for all sports organizations to sign the anti-doping clause of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the local chapter, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).

Tuesday, 06 March 2018