ARF strengthens Anti-illegal Betting Taskforce

The Asian Racing Federation has added two experts with decades of experience in combating corruption in sports betting and match-fixing.

Asia.- The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) has announced it has strengthened its Anti-Illegal Betting Taskforce with the addition of two new experts.  

Former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Graham Ashton, and the Project Manager of INTERPOL’s Match-Fixing Task Force, Claudio Marinelli, have joined the taskforce.

Ashton was in charge of setting up Victoria Police’s Sporting Integrity Unit, the first police unit in the world specially dedicated to match-fixing crimes, while Marinelli lead the creation of INTERPOL’s Match-Fixing Task Force.

The taskforce now comprises 14 experts in sports and racing integrity, law enforcement, academia, and intergovernmental relations.

ARF says it believes international cooperation and information sharing are key factors to combat illegal betting given the international dimension of sport.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, said: “The threat from illegal betting is one of the key challenges facing the global racing industry. The ARF is committed to combatting this threat both by sharing its own expertise, and engaging with other stakeholders from the wider sports environment.”