The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced sanctions against three European athletes for betting on the performances of their teammates. The most significant violation involved a French runner who secured a 5,000 euro payout from a winning bet.
Details of Violations at Major Championships
According to an official statement released by the AIU on January 29, 2026, three athletes violated the World Athletics Integrity Code and regulations regarding competition manipulation. The most serious case involves Aurore Fleury, a French middle-distance runner, who wagered 2,000 euros on her teammates’ events during the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome. The bet was successful, resulting in a 5,000 euro gain. Fleury is a multiple-time French national champion, though she has not yet competed in the Olympic Games.
The other two violations involved German discus throwers and took place during the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo held in September. Henrik Janssen, 27, placed a total of 100 euros across three bets, while 22-year-old Steven Richter wagered 40 euros. Both athletes were caught after their conversations regarding the bets were overheard at a training camp in Miyazaki. After being informed by a third party that such actions were illegal, the athletes unsuccessfully attempted to cancel their slips and ceased all further betting activity.
Both Janssen and Richter have international competitive experience. Janssen competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, though he failed to qualify for the final. During the Tokyo Championships, however, he reached the final round, unlike his younger colleague, Steven Richter, who was eliminated in the earlier stages. All bets placed by the duo concerned the performances of their fellow national team members.
Strict Consequences and Zero-Tolerance Policy
The sanctions announced by the AIU vary significantly based on the scale of the offense and the amounts wagered. Aurore Fleury received the harshest penalty: a six-month suspension, backdated to September 1, 2025. In addition to the ban, she was ordered to pay a 3,000 euro fine, which will be donated to charity. Her suspension is set to expire at the end of February 2026, marking a half-year exclusion from professional competition.
The penalties for the German athletes were more lenient, serving primarily as a warning to the sporting community. Both Janssen and Richter received three-month suspended sentences. In reaching this decision, the AIU considered several mitigating factors: all three athletes admitted guilt early in the investigation, showed genuine remorse, and had no prior disciplinary issues. Nevertheless, their names were made public as a deterrent to others in the sport.
Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, emphasized in a statement that betting rules are vital to protecting the credibility of the sport. The organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward such violations, as they directly threaten the integrity of clean competition. Clothier noted that results in athletics must be determined solely by athletic merit and form, not external financial interests. These sanctions send a clear message that such activities have no place in professional track and field.
Education: The Key to Clean Sport
A primary finding of the AIU investigation was a glaring lack of awareness among the athletes regarding current regulations. All sanctioned athletes cited a lack of knowledge concerning the strict restrictions on sports betting. As part of the disciplinary process, all three were required to complete a specialized IOC online course on preventing competition manipulation. This requirement aims to fill educational gaps and minimize the risk of future incidents.
Following guidelines issued by the AIU in late January 2026, national member federations must prioritize awareness building among their athletes. Brett Clothier pointed out that federations bear the responsibility of informing athletes of these strict rules to help them avoid mistakes that could end their careers. “Education cannot be overstated; it is critical for maintaining the standards of our sport,” the AIU chief remarked. Athletes must understand that even small bets on teammates constitute a serious code violation.
Current World Athletics regulations strictly prohibit all “covered persons”—which includes both athletes and support staff—from betting on any athletics events. The AIU warns that even harsher penalties may be applied to violators in the future. Sporting integrity is considered a non-negotiable value, and monitoring athlete behavior remains a top priority for governing bodies. Thanks to swift action in Tokyo and Rome, those violating these core principles were quickly identified and sanctioned.
The Future of Integrity Monitoring
The sanctions against Fleury, Janssen, and Richter serve as a clear signal that the AIU is effectively monitoring athlete behavior during major world events. The priority for the coming years will be the intensification of educational programs led by national federations to eliminate rule-breaking caused by ignorance. These efforts are designed to ensure that during future championships, the focus of fans and media remains strictly on clean athletic competition conducted in the spirit of fair play.
