The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced, last Thursday (29), a punishment for three athletes accused of violating betting rules.
In addition to the suspensions, the trio will have to take a course from the International Olympic Committee on combating match-fixing, an educational measure imposed after the athletes claimed ignorance of the Code of Conduct and Integrity.
Which athletes were punished?
German discus throwers Henrik Janssen, 27, and Steven Richter, 22, have each been suspended for three months.
While Janssen placed three bets totaling 100 euros, Richter made a single bet of 40 euros.
The harshest punishment was given to French middle-distance runner Aurore Fleury, 32. The two-time national 1500-meter champion bet 2,000 euros on a teammate during the 2024 European Athletics Championships, which took place in Rome.
At the time, Fleury earned 5,000 euros. Now, in addition to a six-month suspension, the athlete has also been fined 3,000 euros, an amount that will be donated to charity.
Brazilian Paralympic medalist was also suspended.
In Brazil, a recent case involving gambling has shaken the Paralympic scene. Israel Pereira Stroh, a Brazilian medalist in table tennis, will serve a suspension from sporting activities until 2029.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) imposed the punishment after verifying allegations of corruption and match-fixing.
The athlete’s official trial took place on December 26, 2025, according to the international federation’s records. Furthermore, the organization’s Integrity Unit pointed to irregular conduct prior to the doubles final of the 2024 ITTF Polish Para Open.
In this regard, the agency identified 68 bets placed by the competitor between March 2022 and April 2024. Furthermore, the punishment provides for a two-year ban for each infraction detected in the process.
Consequently, the final calculation discounts the six months of provisional suspension already served by the table tennis player. However, Israel Stroh’s ineligibility remains in effect until June 26, 2029.
