Australia vows to tackle match-fixing

SYDNEY - Australian sporting officials have said that they have agreed to take a united stance against match-fixing to protect the integrity of the nation’s sport.

Sports Minister Mark Arbib said that his regional-level colleagues had agreed that action was needed to deter and punish illegal practices.

“Australia is taking the lead on stamping-out match fixing and illegal betting, much as we have on the international stage with issues like drugs in sport,” the Daily Star quoted Arbib, as saying in a statement.

“Australian sports ministers agree that corruption in sport is an emerging and critical issue facing Australian and international sport and we must work together to tackle the issue,” he added.

Arbib also said that the ministers would support a nationally-consistent approach to legislation relating to the criminality of match-fixing.

He said they would also cooperate in information sharing and the development of better networks between governments, betting operators and law enforcers and develop a national code of conduct for sport.

The ministers also agreed to support global efforts to combat corruption including the establishment of a worldwide code of conduct and an international body similar to the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA). (ANI)