LONDON — Underground criminals now have “control of a significant percentage of world sport,” World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman said Wednesday.
Addressing a conference in west London, Howman said organized gangs make more money dealing in performance-enhancing drugs than trafficking heroin.
He said their reach extends much further than is widely believed.
“The underworld is involved in betting and in distributing steroids and it’s the same jokers doing both,” Howman said.
“The mafia launder the money [from selling performance-enhancing drugs] through the betting industry.
“They might get a return of five bucks for a four buck investment, but they’re happy because the money is laundered.”
Howman told Sky News he was sure the same criminals distributing illegal substances to the world of sport were also involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing.
“I don’t just think it, I know it, and this is not going to improve unless someone does something about it. If you can get away with it, you will continue,” he said.
Read more: