GLMS Statement on the Final report of the Independent Review of Integrity in Tennis

Following the publication of the Interim Report of the Independent Review of Integrity in Tennis on April 25, the Independent Review Panel published yesterday, December 19, its final report.

The recommendations of the Final Report of the Panel include the removal of incentives for breaches of integrity, the establishment of a newly-empowered TIU with an independent supervisory board, education measures, greater co-operation and collaboration with the betting sector. National authorities are also recommended to develop national regulation and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sport Competitions. The Panel has identified no evidence of any institutional corruption or cover-up by the tennis authorities or the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU). GLMS President, Ludovico Calvi, has stated: “Supporting every effort towards transparency and integrity, GLMS welcomes the decision of the tennis governing bodies to proceed to an independent review. The recommendation for enhanced cooperation with the betting sector is of great importance and we are pleased that GLMS has in place an agreement since May 2018 for this purpose with the TIU and we look forward to providing the TIU with further active support in the coming months and years. In addition, we highly welcome the call to national authorities for betting regulation and especially for the ratification of the Macolin Convention. Recalling that sports betting is regulated at a national level by the respective national public authorities, GLMS calls for legalised, well-regulated, sports betting environments, complemented by concrete measures against illegal sports betting." As for the concerns expressed in the report regarding betting sponsorships in tennis, GLMS President adds “Although we understand the concerns expressed by the Panel on the risks related to betting sponsorship, GLMS recalls that sponsorship is not a problem per se. However, conflicts of interest need to be prevented. Taking in serious this matter, GLMS recently published its Code of Conduct on Sports betting, which includes clear provisions in terms of the avoidance of any conflicts when it comes to its members sponsoring sport organisations”.