Australia seeks punitive anti-betting measures

Ten-year jail terms and the "naming and shaming" of athletes and officials are among measures Australian sports administrators said they want to combat the illegal betting industry. Sports Minister Mark Arbib and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President John Coates claim match-fixing is the big new threat to the integrity of world sport, just as doping was in the 1980s and 90s. Coates has called on Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to set up a national sports betting authority, in a similar way to the establishment of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority. Coates told the AOC annual general meeting in Sydney on Saturday he wants federal legislation to give the authority a number of measures. These include the recording of names of offending athletes, officials, clubs and third parties of ill-repute on a public register, that is to "name and shame" them, he said. The AOC chief also wants powers to phone tap and seize information, with exemption from privacy legislation and to share information with police, the tax office and international authorities. He said there should also be minimum penalties across sports at all levels, including club level, and suspend bodies who do not apply them. Arbib told AOC delegates he supported law reform authority suggestions for prison terms of up to 10 years. He said he will discuss the move with state sports ministers at a meeting next month. "The Gillard government recognises urgent action on this issue is critical," Arbib said. "In Australia we have seen recent incidents that have highlighted the threat from match-fixing." Coates warned all athletes and officials selected in the Australian team for next year's London Olympics that any activity related to betting or gambling will have them thrown off the team. The AOC has barred Australian athletes from betting on the Olympics since before the Sydney 2000 Games.