Integrity

Betting and Match Fixing

Protecting the integrity of the sport
As an athlete, it is important to understand that you must comply with several obligations even off the court. For instance, betting can affect you differently from the average person. Since you influence games and have access to information that other people do not, specific rules and regulations apply to you:

• You are not authorized to bet on basketball (even indirectly through another person)
• You are not authorized to bet on any sport at a multi-sport event in which you participate

Additionally, you need to be aware of the danger of competition manipulation. The competition manipulation or Match-fixing is an intentional arrangement, act, or omission aimed at an improper alteration of the result or the course of a sports competition to remove all or part of the unpredictable nature of the aforementioned sports competition. Manipulating a competition kills the competition and can destroy your career if you don’t make the right choices.

It is not uncommon for basketball players to be approached by someone (through social media or after a training session or a game) proposing money in exchange for the player’s commitment to act in a certain manner during a basketball game. These persons might not ask for something that appears to be significant at first (e.g., commit a technical fault at a specified time), but accepting this will allow match-fixers to blackmail players into committing additional and potentially more serious alterations to a game.

For the sake of clarity, any predetermined act improperly influencing a game will be sanctioned by FIBA and BAS, and the sanctions can range from financial fines to a life ban from basketball. Additionally, it is important that you always report to FIBA and BAS any fact or suspicion concerning match fixing by using the reporting tool on BAS’s website. A failure to report can be sanctioned, even if you are not involved personally.

By educating yourself about the provisions of the Code of Ethics and Integrity, you can safeguard yourself from making mistakes that could harm your career. If you have any questions on integrity, do not hesitate to ask questions or contact BAS. It is always better to ask for advice than to unintentionally break the law.

The consequences of unauthorized betting or competition manipulation, whether intentional or not, can be very serious. Aside from the risk of being sanctioned or entrapped in a criminal network, there is the risk of public humiliation for not only yourself but also for your family and team. There is also a serious chance of your professional career in sports being destroyed. By educating yourself about betting laws and regulations, you can make sure to avoid situations that put you or your career at risk.

What is Match-Fixing – Watch Video

Know the rules

Always consult the FIBA rules and the potential additional rules and regulations issued by the BAS.

Never bet on basketball or any multi-sport event you are participating in

As a professional athlete, you cannot bet on basketball because of the obvious conflict of interest and the potential inside information you might have access to. If you are sanctioned for unauthorized betting, you risk having your image and reputation tarnished, being banned from your sport, losing your job, and you may even be subject to a criminal investigation.

Play it safe – don’t bet at all

Betting on other sports may also raise questions. You are likely to be friends with many other athletes, and you are therefore best advised not to make any bets on sports to avoid potential problems.

Be careful about handling sensitive information

As an athlete, you will have access to information that is not yet available to the general public, such as knowing that your star player is injured or that the coach is putting out a weak side. This is considered sensitive or inside information. This information is likely to be useful for people betting on your sport who want to secure an unfair advantage. There is nothing wrong with athletes having sensitive information; it’s what you do with it that matters. Passing on information to friends, family, or others can get you in trouble, even if there is no obvious reward for you.

Absolutely never fix a competition

Whatever the reason, do not fix any aspect of a competition. Do not put yourself into a situation that would bring you or even force you to adversely influence the natural course of a game.

Report if approached about illegal betting

Whether it’s a straightforward request to fix a game or an indirect proposition for insider information or should you witness suspicious or clear match-fixing activities, you have the obligation to always report it. If you feel that something is not quite right, it usually isn’t. Report this information to BAS and your coach, and Team Manager, or even better, directly on FIBA’s report mechanism tool available on FIBA’s website: http://www.fiba.basketball/integrity .

Please refer to Book 1 chapter 5, for an up-to-date version of the FIBA Internal Regulations governing Betting and Corruption.

Fair Play
Fair play sits at the core of sporting competition. Without fair play, the essence of sport is destroyed. This is why FIBA and BAS value fair play, and why we hope that every basketball player follows the FIBA Code of Conduct both on and off the court.

The concept of fair play is a fundamental part of the game of basketball. It represents the positive benefits of playing by the rules and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents, and fans. Fair play is based on integrity, fairness, and respect. Fair play captures the sporting, moral, and ethical principles for which FIBA and BAS stand and for which it will continue to fight in the future, regardless of the influences and pressures there may be.

The Golden Rules of Fair Play
Playing fair earns respect even when the game is lost, while cheating only brings shame. Remember: it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly.

Play to win but accept defeat with dignity

If you do not play to win, you are cheating your opponents, deceiving those who are watching, and also fooling yourself. Play to win but learn to lose graciously. Do not blame the referee or anyone else. Good losers earn more respect than bad winners.

Observe the rules of the game

The rules are designed to make the game fun to play and fun to watch. By sticking to the rules, the game will be more enjoyable.

Respect opponents, team-mates, referees, officials, and spectators

Fair Play means respect. Referees are there to maintain discipline and Fair Play. Always accept their decisions without arguing, and help them to enable all participants to have a more enjoyable game.

Promote the interests of basketball

Think of basketball’s interests before your own and about how your actions may affect the image of the game. Talk about the positive things in the game and encourage other people to watch and play fairly.

Honour those who defend basketball’s good reputation

Sometimes somebody does something exceptional that deserves our special recognition. They should be honored, and their fine example publicized.

Reject corruption, drugs, racism, violence, gambling, and other dangers to our sport

Watch out for attempts to tempt you into cheating or using drugs. Treat all players and everyone else equally, regardless of their religion, race, sex, or national origin.

Help others to resist corrupting pressures

You may hear that teammates or other people you know are being tempted to cheat in some way or otherwise engage in behaviour deemed unacceptable. Do not hesitate to confront them. Give them the strength to resist and remind them of their commitment to their teammates and to the game itself.

Denounce those who attempt to discredit our sport

Do not be ashamed to stand up to anybody who you are sure is trying to make others cheat or engage in other unacceptable behaviour. It is better to expose them and have them removed before they can do any damage.

Use basketball to make a better world

Basketball has an incredible power, which can be used to make this world a better place in which everyone can live. Use this powerful platform to promote peace, equality, health, and education for everyone.

To learn more, click here.

Abusive Behaviour

What is abusive behaviour?
Every person in sport, in every role, has the right to participate in an environment that is fun, safe, and healthy, and to be treated with respect, dignity, and fairness. All forms of harassment, vilification, and abuse, be it physical, professional, or sexual, and inflicting, facilitating, or tolerating any non-accidental physical or mental injuries, are strictly prohibited by FIBA and BAS and can result in penalties and punishments.

Forms of abusive behaviour:

Verbal abuse

• Slandering, ridiculing, bullying, gossiping, or defaming someone
• Persistent name-calling, which is hurtful, insulting, or embarrassing
• Chronic teasing, belittlement, or frequent criticism that undermines the victim’s ability to perform

Nonverbal abuse

• Threatening gestures, actions, or glances
• Shunning, excluding, or disregarding a person
• Offensive depictions of another through a visual medium, such as a drawing
• Mimicking another in an offensive manner

Psychological abuse

• Any treatment that may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, or self-worth
• Unwelcome act of confinement, isolation, humiliation, or patronization
• Intentionally leaving someone unattended when they need assistance
• Failure to respect privacy

Physical abuse

• Non-accidental violence towards a player or other person
• Pushing, punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, or otherwise harming a player
• Age-inappropriate or physique-inappropriate training loads
• Forced alcohol consumption
• Systematic doping practices
• Damaging another’s property

Sexual abuse

• Conduct of a sexual nature where consent is coerced/manipulated or is not or cannot be given
• Inappropriate looking, sexual teasing, or sexual harassment
• Sexual photography or forced use of pornography or witnessing of sexual acts
• Indecent exposure
• Rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault

Cyber abuse

• Targeting another using social media, email, instant messaging, text messaging, or any other type of digital technology
• Tormenting, threatening, cyber-bullying, harassing, or embarrassing using digital technology

To learn more, click here.

To Report on:

Anti-Doping Violation, click here

Match-Fixing, Report to IOC, CPIB, or BAS

Safe Sport Abusive Behavior, Report here.