Extending integrity to third parties: in search of a new model for anti-corruption in sports

Abstract

The founding of the International Partnership against Corruption in Sport in 2017 is evidence of a growing consensus among stakeholders that sports governing bodies (SGBs) have failed to re-organize in the wake of the recent corruption scandals. Therefore, the autonomy of sports must no longer be seen as an excuse for not interfering with the internal governance of SGBs. Against this background, the paper examines the various good governance standards that have been proposed by stakeholders, experts and scholars. It argues that in line with a standard of overall integrity, private-sector models of extending good governance to third parties should be more widely considered. And overall integrity should be based on law and not merely rely on ethics. To illustrate these challenges, this paper will offer a case study of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) new commitment to anti-corruption. It reveals that although the IOC is pronouncing sweeping reforms in its Agenda2020 and has upgraded the Host City Contract to create leverage over the Game’s host institutions, it remains vague on the issue of third party due diligence. It appears that the current search for good governance standards needs to become much more serious and less publicity-driven.