Morocco joins international steering committee on combating corruption in sport

Saturday 03 - 12:45

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco joins international steering committee on combating corruption in sport

Morocco has joined the steering committee of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS), strengthening its participation in international efforts to promote transparency and integrity in sports.

The National Integrity, Prevention and Fight Against Corruption Authority said the appointment was confirmed during the partnership’s General Assembly in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Moroccan body was represented by its president, Mohamed Benalilou.

The authority said its new position would allow Morocco to contribute to discussions on the partnership’s priorities and initiatives, while strengthening cooperation between public institutions, sports organizations and international partners.

Membership of the steering committee is also expected to provide opportunities for Morocco to exchange expertise and contribute to the development of practical tools aimed at preventing corruption in sport. The authority said it intends to promote the application of governance standards, including greater transparency in sports management and decision-making.

The move comes as Morocco prepares to host major international sporting events, increasing attention on issues such as transparent procurement, financial management, accountability and the prevention of corruption-related risks.

The Moroccan authority emphasized that protecting sports from corruption is closely linked to maintaining public confidence, fair competition and the credibility of sporting results. It said corruption can undermine resources and weaken the broader social and economic contribution of sport.

Morocco plans to use its new role both to contribute to the development of international standards on sports integrity and to benefit from the partnership’s experience and tools to strengthen national prevention mechanisms.

IPACS was established in 2017 as a multi-stakeholder initiative involving the International Olympic Committee, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Council of Europe, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and governments and sports organizations. Based in Lausanne, the partnership brings together governments, international organizations, international sports federations and national Olympic committees to promote common approaches to preventing and combating corruption in sport.

For Morocco, participation in the steering committee provides an additional platform for cooperation on sports governance as the country expands its involvement in major international sporting events and seeks to strengthen integrity standards across the sector.