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As an Athlete, you have a responsibility to know the rules, ignorance is not excuse. Protect your career, your hard-work, your sport. Find out more about competition manipulation to make sure you make the right decision.
Always do your best.
Never lose on purpose.
You may be tempted to underperform in order to face an easier opponent later in a competition. This is competition manipulation, and it is subject to sanctions. It kills the spirit of sport; displays a lack of respect for yourself, your team, your opponents and your fans; and can lead to punishments and loss of sponsorship – as well as damage to your reputation.
Would you lose on purpose? Cheating to win is well understood, but deliberately losing a competition, or part of it, is also cheating. This is called competition manipulation. It can have serious consequences for your career and sporting dreams.
Always be careful with betting.
Never bet on your own sport or the Olympic Games.
Money can also be a motivating factor behind manipulating a competition. You could be asked or bribed to do so. You could be tempted to manipulate a competition in order to win a bet and earn money. Therefore you should never bet on your sport, nor ask someone to do it for you.
No sport is safe from betting-related manipulation. Bets are placed on athletes of all nationalities and on all Olympic sports, especially during the Games. Make sure you know the rules and respect them to safeguard your career and your reputation.
Always be aware of what you share.
Never reveal insider information.
To protect yourself and your sport, be careful with inside information. What seems common knowledge for you may be a gold mine for someone wanting to place a bet on your competition. Insight about injuries, mental health, tactics or management plans can be misused to place a bet. Therefore, non-public information about your sport must stay private. Everything that is discussed in the locker room and within your immediate team must not be shared. Be careful with social media.
Sometimes the first step into competition manipulation is being asked by someone else to cheat or provide insider information. Watch this video to find out how such an approach can happen.