Irish Team Bets Raise Alarm at the Olympics

Jul 30, 2012
Irish Team Bets Raise Alarm at the Olympics
One of Irish athletes accused for betting on an opponent to win Ireland's Olympic Council announced that it has started investigating an anonymous allegation that two bets were made prior to the London Olympics in favour of an opponent to win against the Irish athlete whom it did not name in an unspecified sport in which they were both competing. The spokesman confirmed it was now a legal issue so the council would not make any further comment until investigations had been concluded, and Pat Hickey, Olympic Council of Ireland President, said that if found guilty, any competitor would face "severe sanctions" including exclusion from the Olympics. Ireland has over 60 athletes competing in 14 sports at the Games. According to a report the alleged bets were placed the day before the competition in question started, both were successful, and the competitor withdrew Euros 3,600 ($4,500) in cash on returning from the event. What's more, IOC President Jacques Rogge was "uneasy" about Australian athletes allegedly betting on who would be the flag bearer. Therefore, the IOC has pledged to crack down on illegal gambling during the Games setting up a monitoring unit to track betting patterns and ban athletes from betting during the Games.
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