Ukraine’s National Sports Integrity Platform Joins ULIS as Associate Member
2026-07-16
Ukraine's National Platform on Sports Integrity has joined the ULIS network as an Associate Member, gaining access to international analytical tools and expertise to combat sports manipulation, while the Czech Republic is considering joining the Macolin Convention following a recent integrity scandal.
The National Platform on Sports Integrity of Ukraine has become the newest Associate Member of the United Lottery for Integrity in Sports (ULIS) network. The announcement was made by ULIS on July 15, 2026.
The platform is an interagency working group established under the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and serves as the country’s national coordination body under Article 13 of the Council of Europe’s Macolin Convention. Its responsibilities include preventing and combating the manipulation of sports competitions, facilitating cooperation among public authorities, sports bodies, and law enforcement, promoting transparency and fair play, supporting international and domestic information exchange, developing integrity policies and risk assessments, and offering expert advisory assistance to stakeholders.
“The manipulation of sports competitions is a global challenge that cannot be addressed by a single organisation alone,” said Matvii Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and Chair of the National Platform. He noted that joining ULIS “provides us with access to advanced analytical tools and international expertise” and that the goal is “to protect and foster a fair sporting environment for athletes and fans alike.”
Luca Esposito, ULIS General Secretary, stated that “having National Platforms joining the association strengthens our commitment to safeguarding sports integrity in collaboration with international public authorities and underpins our support for the Macolin Convention principles.”
ULIS holds observer status with the Committee of the Parties to the Macolin Convention and is recognised as a key international partner in sports integrity. The Macolin Convention is the only binding international legal instrument specifically targeting the manipulation of sports competitions and is open to signature by all countries.
In a related development, the Czech Republic is reportedly considering joining the Macolin Convention as part of efforts to strengthen its own anti-manipulation and anti-corruption framework, following a major integrity scandal in the country.