New Drive To Tackle Corrupt Olympic Gambling

Sports governing bodies are "planning a new drive" to tackle the effects of irregular and corrupt betting ahead of the Olympics, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. To battle an issue called "the biggest threat facing sport," an umbrella group representing 320 governing bodies will launch a website and code of practice to "encourage the introduction of tough new rules for competitors, establishing designated units to police their sport and educating athletes in how to avoid being corrupted by fixers." Among the governing bodies in the group are U.K. Athletics, the Football Association and British Rowing. The code of practice includes a six-step action plan. Those steps are: To ensure that sports have adequate rules and regulations; designate an official to deal with the issue, dedicate a integrity unit; create an extensive education program; create competition contracts that clearly specify the obligations of athletes and establish information-sharing agreements with bookmakers (GUARDIAN, 7/2).