A former federal corruption prosecutor is calling for the creation of an independent sports integrity inspector general following numerous high-profile betting scandals. Carolyn Pokorny believes this body should receive funding from major sports leagues without having a role in its operations.
Speaking to CBS News, the former prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York said that when your reputation and business model are on the line, “you just can’t investigate yourself credibly.” She pointed to recent scandals as showing weak points in sports integrity and how this can significantly damage the reputation of these organizations.
Pokorny believes the Justice Department can only do so much on the matter, as it is “stretched very thin” across all types of different cases, including human trafficking, drug cartels, and terrorism.
similar to how the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority operates
Her proposal would create something similar to how the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority operates. Its funding comes from Wall Street companies, but it remains an independent oversight body. The leagues could band together to fund a single body, or individual organizations could do their own thing.
While there are no hard figures showing an impact on revenue, viewership, or attendance from major sports, Pokorny warned that further gambling scandals could jeopardize the long-term credibility of professional and college sports.
