Overview
- World Athletics’ Integrity Unit announced on January 29 that Henrik Janssen and Steven Richter received three-month bans, suspended on probation, for betting on teammates during last year’s world championships in Tokyo.
- Janssen placed three bets totaling €100 and Richter bet €40, both admitted the violations, tried unsuccessfully to cancel the wagers after being warned, and must complete IOC e-learning on competition manipulation.
- The AIU also penalized French middle-distance runner Aurore Fleury with a six-month suspension backdated to September 1, 2025, plus a €3,000 charitable payment, for betting at the 2024 European Championships in Rome where she won €5,000.
- AIU chief Brett Clothier emphasized that the betting ban protects the sport’s integrity and reiterated a zero-tolerance stance toward breaches.
- Germany’s federation said it will revise its athletes’ agreement and increase education on betting rules, while the two discus throwers issued apologies to their team.