Latest news with #sportsIntegrity
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Men's A-League player charged with betting scandal
Two men, including a Western United footballer, will face court for their involvement in an alleged betting scandal surrounding the A-League men's soccer season. Detectives from the Victoria Police Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit charged a 24-year-old West Melbourne man and a 27-year-old Kingsville man on Sunday with numerous offences, including use of corrupt conduct for betting purposes. Both were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 31. While the individuals are yet to be publicly named, it is confirmed one is a player at Western United, which finished third in the A-League Men competition this season, while the other man is a state leagues player. "The club is aware that one Western United player has been charged in relation to an alleged breach of sports betting guidelines," a United club spokesperson said. "We take this matter seriously, condemn any actions that compromise the integrity of the game, and are cooperating fully with all relevant authorities. "Given the nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment any further on the matter." Police allege four matches in April and May 2025 were the subject of 'player to be carded' wagering manipulation. The Australian Professional Leagues, who run the A-League competitions, confirmed a player had been charged. "The Australian Professional Leagues is aware that one A-League player has been charged by Victorian Police with offences related to gambling," a spokesperson said. "The integrity of our sport is something that has to be protected without compromise, and we are engaging with all relevant authorities to assist with this matter." In a statement, a Football Australia spokesperson said it took the integrity of the game extremely seriously and was fully cooperating with external authorities. "Football Australia has taken swift action today to impose 'no fault interim suspensions' to the two individuals charged, and those suspensions will remain in place until further notice," the statement said. The charges come a year after the former captain of Sydney club Macarthur FC was accused of paying two younger team mates up to $10,000 to deliberately receive yellow cards in a scheme allegedly masterminded by a South American connection. Celebrated team leader Ulises Davila and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis have been charged over a betting fix police say led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.
Reuters
29-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
Banka re-elected for third and final term as WADA president
May 29 (Reuters) - Witold Banka was re-elected for a third and final three-year term as president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the organisation said on Thursday. The third term for Banka, a former middle-distance runner, will begin in January and run until the end of 2028. WADA vice president Yang Yang was also re-elected for a third and final three-year term. In a virtual address to the WADA Foundation Board following his re-election, Banka said he and Yang are committed to elevating the athlete experience, strengthening the global anti-doping system and expanding the impact of their science, education and intelligence work. "We are energized by innovation, collaboration, and the unwavering belief that clean sport matters," said Banka. "I can assure everyone here that we will work harder than ever to protect the integrity of sport and the dreams of the most important stakeholder of all, the athletes."
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jack Draper opens up about the 'awkward' and 'weird' side-effects of anti-doping tests as British No 1 gears up to face home favourite Gael Monfils in French Open second-round clash
Jack Draper shed light on the embarrassing side of tennis' rigorous anti-doping protocols, with the British No1 admitting that he believes it is a 'tough job' for the testers as well as the players. The 23-year-old - as with all players on the WTA and ATP tours - will be routinely subject to the sport's programme, which is overseen by the International Tennis Integrity Agency and frequently come under fire for being at times draconian in its thoroughness. At the start of the French Open, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka opened up on a 'scary' experience she had when she was targeted by anti-doping control in Paris. Osaka was woken up at 5am for to undergo a blood test, with the tester struggling to find a vein to take a sample and leaving the player bruised from multiple attempts. But Draper managed to find a lighter side to the omnipresence of testing for players, albeit revealing how invasive testing can be. 'It's obviously a difficult moment, right?' Draper admitted when asked about his thoughts on how it feels to be watched when providing a urine sample. 'You kind of - sometimes, you push so hard that you're farting and you're right next to them. So it's a tough job for them as well. 'I always keep that in mind, some people get annoyed and stuff because it is a very intimate situation. But at the end of the day, I feel for that person as well. It's their job. 'But it is sometimes difficult as well. If it's really late and stuff and you want to get cracking on with whatever you're doing next (...) you've got to wait around and do that for a long time. 'It's difficult because you're losing sleep. But I also think it's a tough job for them as well. It's not easy. Some awkward moments for sure.' Tennis players must make themselves available for potential testing at all times and provide their current location in order to ensure they do not miss a drugs test - which could itself incur a suspension. There is greater noise around anti-doping too, in the wake of two high-profile suspensions on the men's and women's tours for world number one Jannik Sinner and former world number one Iga Swiatek. Sinner has just returned from a three-months suspension after coming to an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February. WADA had previously appealed Sinner's initial verdict which had found him cleared of negligence or liability after testing positive for banned substance clostebol in March 2024. Sinner argued that his physiotherapist had contaminated him after using the steroid cream for a cut on his finger, and subsequently giving him treatment. Swiatek was handed a one-month ban in September after testing positive for trimetazidine in August of last year, which was found to have been present through contamination of her prescribed melatonin at the production stage. Emma Raducanu admitted earlier this month that the recent suspensions had made her almost paranoid about taking medication, even if it is not on the prohibited list. 'I don't want to take anything even if the doctors are saying you should take this - just out of risk of contamination,' Raducanu said. 'Even if it's not prohibited on the anti-doping list, you don't know if it's contaminated by another product. 'It can show a green tick, but if it's contaminated you will still get screwed over. We could go to a restaurant and someone could put something in our drink. It's really hard, especially if you are noticeable and the waiter recognises you. It's something I do worry about - nervous every time.' Draper will continue his work in Paris after beating Mattia Bellucci 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in his first-round clash, but faces a hostile atmosphere in Paris in his next match. The Indian Wells champion will play home favourite Gael Monfils after the French veteran came through against Hugo Dellien in five sets late on Tuesday night.
