The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), in cooperation with Sportradar Integrity Services, has announced the launch of its #RaceAgainstManipulation initiative.
Using the campaign, the international motorsports governing body intends to target drivers competing in both national and international competitions as well as team personnel, officials, volunteers, event organisers and FIA staff and consultants.
Additionally, the FIA also aims to reach out to the wider motorsport community outside of the FIA, including national sporting organisations, staff and consultants, media and fans of the sport.
“Safeguarding the integrity of motor sport worldwide is of paramount importance,” remarked FIA President Jean Todt, F. “No reports of betting manipulation in motor sport have been received to date but we must be vigilant.
“And the best way to achieve this is through education. #RaceAgainstManipulation will help stakeholders to recognise potential threats, assist them in the reporting of misconduct. It is an essential tool in the fight to maintain sporting integrity and I advise everyone involved in our sport to use it.”
Under its current agreement with Sportradar, the FIA has secured the monitoring of international motor racing fixtures using the sports data and technology company’s Fraud Detection System (FDS).
As part of the #RaceAgainstManipulation campaign, the partners’ efforts include the leveraging of an e-learning platform, consisting of a 30-minute tutorial, first provided to Formula One drivers on Friday 27 August at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
Content covered by the tutorial includes the identification of the behaviour of competition fixtures and information concerning obligations and the duty to report, as well as details regarding the consequences which can arise as a result of regulations breaches. Upon completing the tutorial, each participant receives an FIA certificate.
FIA Secretary General for Sport, Peter Bayer, commented: “This user-friendly platform is a milestone for the FIA and the motor sports world as it will help raise awareness of the specific contents of the International Sporting Code on this topic and in particular what competition manipulation means in an informative and entertaining approach.
“I thank Pierre Ketterer, Head of the FIA Governance, Integrity & Regulatory Affairs Department and the FIA team for their proactive process to this important matter.”
