Integrity Washing? The Implementation of Reporting Mechanisms by International Sports Organisations

In the context of scandals and growing public pressure, international sport organisations have undertaken a number of governance reforms. A landmark measure has been the implementation of confidential reporting mechanisms to detect and address internal wrongdoings such as bribery, match-fixing, abuse or doping. This paper seeks to understand the performance of such mechanisms, through a multiple case study approach comparing the organisational intentions, the means invested, and the perceived results. Policy reviews and a series of interviews with international sport organisation representatives were conducted. The data analysis generates three main findings: the quest for external legitimacy is a key driver behind the reforms; minimum resources are invested in the processes; the perceived impacts are limited. Sport organisations may adopt formal governance reforms that remain disconnected from the daily practices. Finally, the practical and conceptual implications are presented and discussed.