Doha: The session titled "AI and Anti-Corruption in Sport: Risks and Opportunities," held as part of the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (COSP11), discussed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in detection, investigation, and prevention within sport integrity systems. The session saw the launch of the Guide on the Use of Artificial Intelligence on Anti-Corruption in Sport, developed by the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) under the strategic leadership of Qatar's Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA).
According to Qatar News Agency, the guide addresses match-fixing, off-field corruption, and organized crime. CEO of the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) Massimiliano Montanari emphasized AI's role in supporting anti-corruption efforts and strengthening sports integrity, noting the contribution of the platforms and knowledge provided by the United Nations in shaping regulatory frameworks. Montanari highlighted that technology has enhanced the ICSS's ability to analyze vast amounts of data, allowing for the processing of over seventy reports and publications within hours, and the analysis of numerous consultations and surveys.
The CEO of the ICSS also mentioned that while AI enhances research and analytical capabilities, it does not replace human expertise. Final decisions, he stressed, must align with principles of transparency, fairness, accountability, and respect for human rights. Montanari pointed out the challenges in implementing anti-corruption frameworks across institutions, noting that AI can identify shared priorities, support cross-border cooperation, and provide valuable insights for law enforcement agencies and integrity bodies in narrowing the scope of investigations.
Ronan O'Laoire, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted the progress made by the international community in understanding threats facing sports, underscoring AI's growing role in supporting anti-corruption efforts. O'Laoire stated that corruption in sports extends beyond doping issues to include match-fixing, bribery, money laundering, abuse of power, and illicit enrichment, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive framework for AI use in prevention, detection, investigation, and punishment.
Eid Al Hajri, Director of the Planning, Quality and Innovation Department at ACTA, remarked that sport has become an influential economic and social sector and is a bastion of integrity and transparency. He noted challenges such as result manipulation, illegal betting, abuse of influence, and digital threats. Al Hajri stated that Qatar sees sport integrity as integral to national integrity, and organizing this event with the ICSS reflects the country's commitment to developing tools for a fair and safe sporting environment.
Al Hajri reviewed national efforts to promote integrity in sports, highlighting the launch of a manual to enhance integrity and transparency in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, and the Qatar Football Association. This manual serves as a national reference for best practices in preventing and addressing corruption in sports.
He concluded by expressing appreciation to Qatar's partners at the United Nations and the ICSS, as well as to all experts and speakers, hoping the session would contribute to shaping a safer and more integrity-driven future for sport worldwide.