Senior police to help crack down on match-fixing, organised crime and drug abuse in sport

An expanded National Integrity of Sport Unit will see senior police recruited to crack down on match-fixing, organised crime and drug abuse in sport.

Intelligence expert Andrew Godkin has been appointed as interim unit head by the Federal Sports Minister. He will be focused on recruiting law enforcement experts from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Crime Commission, and other intelligence agencies. 

The unit will target "threats to the integrity of sport...like match-fixing, doping and unethical conduct," said Senator Lundy. A major focus will be collecting and distributing information about potential match-fixing, and working with the sports when threats are identified. There are presently seven investigators, however this number is expected to double over the next two months as it continues the recruitment process. 

This comes as part of a broader crackdown on unethical behaviour in sport. The state governments are currently attempting to pass legislation to make match-fixing a crime. The Australian Institute of Sport has recently introduced a new code of conduct regulating the supplements athletes can use, and establishing proper qualifications for sports scientists. The code will see injections be disallowed except for documented medical conditions, and only properly qualified medical staff will be permitted to administer them. 

Earlier this year, NRL chief executive Dave Smith established an integrity unit for rugby league's governing body following the Australian Crime Commission's report into performance-enhancing drugs and organised crime.

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