The illegal activities associated with sports (steroids, gambling), have been on the rise over the past 20 years, with activity increasing since the Internet was introduced. Though the steroid and gambling trends are somewhat new in the world of criminal activity, it's the same offenders running the underworld show.
The director of the World Anti-Doping Agency, David Howman, commented on the PED and gambling growth on Wednesay at the World Sports Law Report at Twickenham rugby stadium, saying that steroid trafficking and illegal gambling both fall under the same criminal umbrella.
"My information is we now know the criminal underworld controls a significant proportion of world sport," said Howman, as reported by Reuters.
According to Howman, there is more money made in trafficking performance-enhancing drugs than in dealing heroin.
"Now INTERPOL are justifying it. They now have the numbers and the information and they are really worried about it," said Howman.
Howman went on to emphasize that the criminals dealing drugs such as cocaine or heroin are the same individuals or groups involved with gambling and steroid distribution.
"They say the underworld is involved in betting, in distributing steroids and it's the same jokers, it's not anybody new," he said.
