Racing Integrity Commissioner for the State of Victoria partners with the ICSS

3With the influence of organised crime in sport and illegal sport betting continuing to affect sports around the world, the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner (ORIC) has entered into a new partnership with the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to help safeguard the integrity of racing across the state.

In line with their firm commitment to protecting racing in the state of Victoria from the potential integrity threats at a national and international level, ORIC and the ICSS will work closely to exchange information, intelligence, data and other materials related to sport and racing integrity issues, as well as cooperating with each other and other authorities to ensure the highest level of integrity in all three codes of racing operating across Victoria.

In their capacity as independent sport integrity advisors to the Racing Integrity Commissioner, the ICSS will also help educate racing participants, racing officials and administrators in the area of integrity, as well as monitoring and gathering intelligence related to racing and other related sport integrity issues, including race-fixing and organised crime activity in Australia.

Speaking of the agreement, Sal Perna, Racing Integrity Commissioner for the State of Victoria, said:

“No matter what sport it is, be it professional or semi-professional, there are now huge challenges that now face the integrity of sport and sport governing bodies on a daily basis.

“As part of my remit as the Racing Integrity Commissioner, it is my responsibility to do what I can to ensure the highest levels of integrity are maintained to protect all three racing codes in the State of Victoria from the many national and international potential threats that they may face.

“With this is mind, I am excited to have the ICSS and its team of global sport integrity experts support our work. Their experience and international insight will be an important addition and I look forward to further developing a close working relationship with the ICSS to help protect the integrity of the Victorian Racing industry.”

Chris Eaton, Executive Director – Sport Integrity at the ICSS added:

“As the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce an independent integrity oversight body to cover Thoroughbred, Harness and Greyhound racing, the Racing Integrity Commissioner is one of the only, if not the most significant, sport integrity units operating in Australia and in the region.

“With the continued and growing influence of organised crime and the significant impact that illegal betting is now having on sport around the world, governments and law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to confront these two very serious threats and ensure sports governing bodies and competitions are properly protected.

“Over recent years, Australia and the State of Victoria have led by example, taking many proactive steps in this area as well as addressing the growing integrity issues that sport now faces. On behalf of the ICSS Sport Integrity Directorate, I look forward to working with Sal, as well as other national and international authorities, to protect the integrity of racing in the state of Victoria and beyond.”