The ethical ecology of sport competition manipulation

This chapter examines the conceptual and ethical dimensions of whistleblowing in sport. The analysis reveals the inherent contradictions in sports reporting systems and their implications for integrity. It sets out the historical dimensions of whistleblowing, identifying critical asymmetries between the duties imposed on athletes by sports institutions without a proper recognition of athletes’ rights and. institutions’ duties. It demonstrates how ‘zero-tolerance’ sport integrity policies create disproportionate burdens on athletes while organisations maintain congenial commercial links with the betting industry they both purport to combat. The study reveals contradictions between the reporting obligations imposed on athletes and players and the commercial partnerships of federations with betting companies. It documents the existence of ‘open secrets’ that perpetuate organisational cultures that discourage reporting. The chapter concludes that effective whistleblower protection requires adequate resources, robust legal frameworks, and institutional consistency between anti-corruption policies and commercial practices, suggesting the need for systemic reforms in sports integrity governance.