What is the role of whistleblowing in preserving sports integrity?

• A. Whistleblowing publicly shames teams.
• B. Whistleblowing enables confidential reports of suspected corruption or rule violations, triggering investigations and preventative action.
• C. It has no impact on investigations.
• D. It replaces formal investigations.

Answer: (B)

Whistleblowing serves as a crucial pathway to preserve sports integrity by providing a confidential channel for reporting suspected corruption or rule violations. Those reports can trigger formal investigations by regulators or governing bodies, which helps uncover misconduct and enables appropriate sanctions, reforms, and strengthened oversight. The confidential protection for whistleblowers encourages people to come forward without fear of retaliation, supporting early detection and preventative action. This process does not aim to publicly shame teams, nor does it replace formal investigations; it initiates and informs them, while complementing broader integrity measures.