Regulating Against Competition Manipulation In Sport

Financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to increase the incidence of competition manipulation (fixing) in sport.  It is critical that sports governing bodies (SGBs) and event organisers understand this risk and have in place effective regulations to prohibit competition manipulation and other behaviours that undermine the perceived integrity (or unpredictability) of sport.

This article examines key considerations for SGBs and event organisers undertaking those exercises and assesses the utility of the Macolin Convention and Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions as resources for doing so.  Specifically, it looks at:

1. The responsibilities on SGBs and event organisers to regulate against competition manipulation
2. The current international regulatory frameworks:
   • The Macolin Convention
   •  Olympic Movement Code
3. How to assess a sport’s relative risk to manipulation
4. The four key prohibited behaviours under the Macolin Convention
   1. manipulation of sports competitions;
   2. participant betting;
   3. misuse of inside information; and,
   4. failure to report.
5. Other behaviours that should also be prohibited