What to Watch Out For

The announcement of the results of the 12 month investigation of the Australian Crime Commission into the links between organised crime and professional sport is not a black day at all for those who are true sports fans. Sure, it’s sad and disappointing but all practical fans who belong to the real world are not shocked at the idea that players may take drugs, games may be fixed, supplements might be recommended – and criminals might be involved. I think its a great day when light is shed on these activities and awareness is enhanced. The probability of fair sport has been increased significantly from 7 February 2013.

And it’s not just in Australia but a worldwide trend. The complete turnaround in the US from tacitly supporting drugs to publicly pursuing them (a la Lance) is extraordinary. The recent Europol report on corruption in football is another example of light where once was darkness. So let’s embrace the new, less tolerant sporting world.

However, I would like to share some warnings because too many people prefer darkness to light, as we will see in coming months, and integrity is in very short supply. We’re not off to a good start. Witness AFL boss Andrew Demetriou claiming he is shocked at the news. Really? And he claims that the Essendon experience, announced some 48 hours earlier, was not related – who is he kidding? We need leaders who display genuine integrity at this time, not purveyors of spin.

I confidently predict that you will see and hear plenty of the following “anti-integrity” responses:

1. “It’s Legal”

They are already out there practising in light of the Bombers news. James Hird: “The supplements our players were given, in my knowledge, were all approved and within the regulations. ” Steve Gigg (Manly): “We always complied with all anti-doping protocols of the WADA code and the NRL”. As one of my wise colleagues explained to me, if people are seeking legal opinions then alarm bells have already sounded and integrity has already been compromised.

2. ” It’s Not Performance-Enhancing”

Just because it doesn’t help on-field performance doesn’t mean it’s OK. Access to illicit substances usually means access to illicit  people and that’s usually the first link to organised crime. This represents a RED warning sign because it’s worse than an excuse, it’s a failure to understand what integrity is about. (You will also hear plenty of nonsense about players being just like “other normal young men”  in this context  – another dangerous excuse for poor behaviour).

3. “I Didn’t Know…”

When left with no other defence, plead ignorance. This is not a warning sign so much about the player/official but about the club that they represent. If players don’t know who to watch out for, what the rules are, what is good for them etc then you might have a good look at who is responsible for them. They probably left them ignorant for a good reason.

Finally, I am interested in the concept of an “Integrity Unit” in each sport. Sounds great but the AFL experience is not encouraging. Set up in 2008 and what has it found? I must confess that I don’t know, and maybe they’re doing a great job, but if they were supposed to be gaining intelligence and Demetriou is “shocked”  at today’s news then it’s a real worry.

The best test of the Integrity Units is NOT what they find but how they BEHAVE. Watch for these warning signs: reference to legal process (rather than open communication); secret hearings and evidence (rather than transparent communication); long durations for investigations (rather than decisive action). Call me a sceptic – I’ll be monitoring them carefully!