Pitfalls and how to avoid them: a study on fraud prevention in sport organizations

Abstract

Fraud is considered to be one of the biggest contemporary threats to the integrity of sports. Sport federations play a key role in safeguarding the integrity within their discipline considering their regulatory, controlling and sanctioning function. Parting from the Organizational Fraud Triangle, this study provides an answer as to how organizational dynamics, namely leadership, organizational culture, and management controls, result in protective or risk factors for fraud within sports organizations. It concerns a multiple-case study design carried out through 17 expert interviews within five federations. Results show vital steps federations have taken strengthening their resilience against fraudulent practices. Yet, a worrisome aspect remains selective awareness and a lack of structural action depending on the types of fraud