Qatar-based International Centre of Sport Security (ICSS) has linked up with the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) to develop a new code of conduct on sports betting integrity that will be launched throughout Portugal and other members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
Developed using the Sorbonne-ICSS Guiding Principles for Protecting the Integrity of Sports Competitions, ‘ICSS-COP Standard CoC’ will set out recognised standards in sports betting integrity to help safeguard federations, clubs and athletes in Portugal.
As part of the new code, member federations will be able to sanction any individual that bets on or influences a result, the progress or any other aspect of a match either directly or via a third-party.
In addition, the code also allows COP member federations to refer allegations or suspicions of violations to a designated officer to investigate and initiate appropriate disciplinary procedures.
The code forms part of an Inter-Regional Cooperation Programme, which aims to support and be implemented alongside existing regulation and legislation on sports betting.
Under this programme, COP and ICSS will work together to promote and enhance good governance, integrity, financial transparency, security and child protection in sport in the hope of enhancing future co-operation with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across the CPLP and European Union (EU).
As part of this programme, the COP will organise summit a NOCs from CPLP countries in Portugal next year in order to address issues related to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of sporting competitions.
The summit will also see the introduction of an ongoing education and awareness programme for young athletes, covering topics related to sport betting integrity and the new code.
“Protecting sport is a top priority on our agenda and, backed by the expertise and valuable collaboration of the ICSS, the COP executive commission recently approved this Code of Conduct on Sport Betting Integrity as a first step of an action plan aimed to prepare Portuguese sport with the proper tools to face the challenge,” COP president José Manuel Constantino said.
Mohammed Hanzab, president of the ICSS, added: “As new cases of integrity and match-fixing continue to emerge throughout the world on a weekly basis, it is important that governments, federations and clubs around the world recognise the very real threat that organised crime and betting fraud present to sport.
“I hope that the work the COP and ICSS will deliver as part of this partnership will encourage other organisations in sport to introduce similar, robust measures to combat match-fixing and safeguard the future of sport.”
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
