Oct 15, 2013: Global Integrity, The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), the international governing body for professional snooker and English billiards.
The global integrity partnership, announced at The Indian Open in New Delhi, will see the ICSS and WPBSA work together to protect and enhance the integrity of professional snooker. It will include specific areas of activity and collaboration, including integrity training and education, monitoring of international betting on Snooker, investigation advice and support, and intelligence gathering, that will take advantage of the ICSS global source network.
This initiative has been developed in order to enhance monitoring and detection mechanisms of international snooker and will safeguard the WPBSA’s position as one of the world’s leading sports in anti-corruption strategies.
Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “On behalf of the ICSS, I would like to thank the WPBSA who have already shown their commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sport.
“Whilst many acknowledge the challenges the sports industry faces, the development of comprehensive integrity programmes not only shows strong leadership, openness and transparency but the determination to eradicate behaviour that threatens the very foundation of sport and its core values.”
Chris Eaton, Director of Sport Integrity at the ICSS, said: “This landmark partnership clearly demonstrates to all stakeholders that the integrity of the sport is of the utmost priority for the WPBSA.
“It is crucial that sport governing bodies show proactive leadership in this area and I look forward to working with the WPBSA to develop new programmes that build on the work already being carried out by Jason Ferguson and his team.”
Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the WPBSA, said: “We are proud to carry the global weight of the ICSS network within our sport. This new agreement with the ICSS demonstrates the WPBSA’s commitment to integrity and our message to those who think about fixing matches is clear. We are watching, we will identify it, we will investigate, it has no place in our sport.
“At the WPBSA, we have already introduced a number of measures to safeguard the integrity of snooker, and we believe our global integrity partnership with the ICSS represents the next important step in the development of the WPBSA’s integrity strategy. I look forward to working with the ICSS’ Integrity team to implement the first ever programme of betting monitoring on international snooker, and also to capitalise on the unique expertise and capabilities the ICSS offers in the field of integrity.”
About the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA)
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association is the World Governing Body of professional snooker. The WPBSA represents all 128 professional players on the World Snooker Tour. The Association’s primary responsibilities include maintaining the rules of the game, protecting integrity of the sport, managing the official rankings and promoting the sport of snooker around the World. The WPBSA is also a major stakeholder in the commercial rights to the sport.
WPBSA is committed to growing the sport of snooker around the World and is developing further grass roots initiatives including Cue Zone in Schools and International Centres of Excellence. Nigel Mawer QPM leads for the WPBSA on anti-corruption and discipline issues. —- By Will Shand
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