Pass the baton to greed and stupidity.
Three track and field athletes were busted for betting on their own teammates at major international meets, the Athletics Integrity Unit said in a press release on Thursday.
A French runner and two German discus throwers were found guilty by the independent watchdog for strict anti-betting violations.
The biggest offender was French middle-distance runner Aurore Fleury, who pocketed 5,000 euros ($5,970) after placing a 2,000-euro ($2,400) wager at the 2024 European Championships in Rome.
German discus throwers Henrik Janssen and Steven Richter also got caught dabbling in bets during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September, wagering 100 euros and 40 euros, respectively.
According to the press release, both athletes were overheard discussing their bets at the event, and after being informed by a third party that it was illegal, they unsuccessfully attempted to cancel their wagers and did not place any more thereafter.
“Lack of education on betting was one of several mitigating factors in arriving at the sanctions,” AIU Head Brett Clothier said in a statement, “with all three athletes also offering early admission, demonstrating genuine remorse for their actions and having previously possessed clean disciplinary records.”
Fleury was slapped with a six-month ban that runs through the end of February and ordered to pay 3,000 euros ($3,600), which will be donated to charity, the AIU said. The 32-year-old is a French national champion but has never competed at the Olympics.
Janssen, 27, and Richter, 22, received three-month bans that were suspended.
Janssen competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, though after failing to register a legal throw, he didn’t reach the final. At worlds, Janssen made the final in Tokyo, while Richter fell short.
“World Athletics Rules regarding betting are in place to ensure that the results in our sport are determined solely on merit. The AIU maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards breaches of the betting rules as they strike at the heart of the integrity of sport,” said Clothier.
“Athletes and other participants are on notice that stricter sanctions may apply in the future. The integrity of our sport is non-negotiable.”
