Prevention of Competition Manipulation
KEEPING SPORT FAIR IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE IOC AND FOR WORLD ROWING. IN RECENT YEARS, MANIPULATION OF SPORTS COMPETITIONS HAS BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE. WORLD ROWING IS COMMITTED TO FIGHTING ALL FORMS OF CHEATING THAT THREATEN BOTH THE INTEGRITY AND THE ESSENCE OF SPORT.
Although rowing is not currently considered to represent a high risk of competition manipulation according to information gathered by the IOC, we should continually work to ensure rowing competitions are fair with unpredictable outcomes. To support this objective, we need to ensure that all accredited people know the rules regarding competition manipulation, for example the prohibition of betting on your discipline at any time or in a competition where you are participating.
This information concerns not only the athletes and the officials but also the athletes’ entourage.
What is Competition Manipulation in Sport?
Competition manipulation is an intentional arrangement aimed at improperly changing the result or the course of a sports competition, to remove all or part of the unpredictable nature of the sports competition with a view to obtaining an undue benefit for oneself or others.
Competition manipulation occurs when a participant(s) in a sports competition (an athlete, athlete support personnel, official, referee, judge, etc.) cheats to remove the unpredictability of a competition. The participant knowingly underperforms or deliberately makes wrongful decisions affecting the result or course of a competition, which is entirely against the Olympic spirit. The reason behind such an action would be either to gain a sporting advantage (e.g. facing an easier opponent in the 2nd round of a tournament) or to gain a financial benefit, notably linked to sports betting.
World Rowing Ambassadors
Kirsten McCann (RSA) is an Ambassador for World Rowing against Competition Manipulation and will be the voice of rowing amongst top-level athletes to raise awareness and help the fight against the manipulation of competition.
Saulius Ritter (LTU) has recently been appointed as a World Rowing Ambassador for the Prevention of Competition Manipulation. Saulius will be the voice of rowing amongst top-level athletes to raise awareness and help the fight against the manipulation of competition.
What are the Rules and Violations?
In order to best fight against competition manipulation, World Rowing has adopted Appendix S12 – Manipulation of Competition and Betting in line with the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions. Breaches of the Appendix S12 and the Olympic Movement Code can result in severe damage to your reputation and your sport, and moreover lead to disciplinary sanctions and criminal sanctions.
Breaches include:
- Betting on one’s sport and/or on the sports event in which you are a participant
- Competition manipulation
- Sharing of inside information
- Corrupt conduct
- Failure to cooperate
- Failure to report
If such a breach is identified, there will be disciplinary proceedings which could lead to disciplinary sanctions for the sportspersons involved.
ALWAYS REPORT & CONTRIBUTE TO PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF ROWING
Relevant breaches of the Code not only undermine the credibility of your sport, but also the credibility of the overall sports movement and all athletes. It is therefore not only a responsibility, but also a moral duty of all of us to report anything that comes to our attention and looks suspicious. It is our right and obligation to contribute to protecting the moral integrity of our fellow athletes and our sport by reporting in a secure manner any potential breach that comes to our attention at your earliest opportunity.
The IOC Integrity Hotline is accessible for anyone at any time to confidentially and anonymously report any suspicious actions that have come to your attention : www.olympic.org/integrityhotline
Believe in Sport awareness campaign
In order to prevent the proliferation of competition manipulation, World Rowing, together with the IOC and its educational campaign “ Believe in Sport“, first and foremost seek to ensure that all athletes, officials and support personnel are aware of the Code of Conduct of the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions in order to protect themselves and their sport from threats linked to competition manipulation.
The Believe in Sport Campaign provides a wide range of informative and ready-to-use resources, including audio-visual materials, a mobile app and e-learning courses for the Olympic Movement stakeholders to teach themselves and raise awareness about the threats of competition manipulation in sport. For more information: Believe in Sport campaign and Toolbox
E-learning on competition manipulation
The Believe in Sport e-learning course on competition manipulation is a 20-minute online course, available on the IOC’s Athlete365 platform, aimed at specifically athletes and coaches, but also available for officials and athlete support personnel, and sports administrators. It is available in 11 languages and accessible here: Prevention of Competition Manipulation e-learning course.