WBSC releases Integrity Unit Annual Report 2023
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has published the Integrity Unit Annual report for 2023 in English and Spanish, showcasing substantial progress in upholding integrity, safeguarding participants and promoting sustainability within the sport.
The report elaborates on the achievements and ongoing efforts in anti-doping, governance, competition manipulation prevention, safeguarding from harassment and abuse as well as sustainability initiatives.
"The WBSC Integrity Unit will continue its efforts to further enhance governance at all levels, from our international federation, through our seven continental associations, to reach all our members," WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said. "The WBSC and all its management remain dedicated to fostering a better and safer environment for baseball-softball, ensuring that the principles of integrity are upheld at every level of our sport."
The WBSC Integrity Unit expanded in 2023 with the addition of a new legal officer, enhancing its investigative capabilities. The year was also marked by an increase in reported cases, reflecting heightened awareness and proactive reporting within the community.
In collaboration with the WBSC Legal Commission, the WBSC Integrity Unit undertook a comprehensive review of reporting mechanisms and case management procedures. This led to the introduction of new reporting forms and flow charts, improving the clarity and efficiency of the processes.
The Prevention of Manipulation of Competition (PMC) Rules were revised to align more closely with the Olympic Agenda 2020+5. Key changes included clarifications in terminology and definitions, expanded scope of betting prohibitions, and provisions for coordinating with law enforcement for parallel investigations.
The WBSC's partnership with Sportradar Integrity Services enabled the monitoring of several tournaments for suspicious betting and match-fixing activities. No cases of manipulation were detected during the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup, WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup, WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup and WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup.
One case of competition manipulation was reported and addressed, with details published on the WBSC Integrity Unit website. No cases of illegal betting were reported in 2023. Looking ahead, the WBSC plans to renew its agreement with Sportradar to monitor additional events in 2024, including the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS, WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup, WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup and others.
In safeguarding efforts, the WBSC appointed dedicated safeguarding officers for each World Cup in 2023. These officers attended internal workshops to standardise procedures across WBSC events. The Safeguarding from Harassment and Abuse Rules and Disciplinary By-Laws were updated to include child and online protection, clearer case management procedures, and enhanced guidelines.
New #Safecall guidelines were also introduced, aimed at educating various groups on identifying and reporting harassment and abuse. These guidelines were translated into multiple languages and shared with stakeholders before and during tournaments. The WBSC held its first on-site safeguarding workshop during the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan, attended by over 140 athletes.
Three cases of harassment and abuse were reported in 2023. These were resolved with actions including the withdrawal of accreditation and mandatory safeguarding education for WBSC personnel. Future developments include creating a new campaign video involving athlete representatives and on-site activities for young athletes.
Sustainability initiatives continued in 2023 with the WBSC's partnership with the Green Future Project, supporting environmental projects in Madagascar, Ecuador, and India. The WBSC also partnered with Alibaba Cloud to enhance the sustainability of its events, starting with the Youth Baseball5 World Cup. A carbon footprint report was made available to track the environmental impact.
