IOC ratifies new recommendations on sportsbetting

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a series of recommendations designed to protect and maintain the integrity of sports if and when they are put at risk by irregular betting.

Agreed with representatives from the betting industry and public authorities following a seminar last week in Lausanne, the IOC revealed that the measures would serve as guidelines for all stakeholders involved and called for the prevention of irregular betting through increased education and information sharing among those involved in sport as well as improved collaboration with governments.

“It is clear that betting, through the financial benefits it generates, provides huge opportunities to sports organisations,” said Jacques Rogge, President for the IOC.

“However, there is a significant problem when betting leads to the manipulation of competitions and, therefore, threatens the integrity of sport. Cheating driven by betting is undoubtedly the biggest threat to sport after doping.

“For the sports movement, it is crucial to develop a unified strategy and to collaborate closely with public authorities and the legal gambling industry. Only then will we be able to address efficiently this complex issue.”

As part of the new set of recommendations, the IOC will work with international sports federations and national Olympic committees in order to establish a confidential ‘hotline’ for the athletes and others to pass on information if they become aware of corruption or threats to the integrity of a sport.

The IOC has also recommended that governing bodies around the world adopt prohibitions against athletes placing wagers related to their sport while instituting appropriate disciplinary procedures.

The organiser for the modern Olympic Games has also revealed that it will establish a ‘working group’ involving representatives from every one of its constituents in order to analyse the ‘best way to monitor sportsbetting’ and ‘provide information on irregular betting patterns’.