MEDIA STATEMENT
Te Ururoa Flavell
MP for Waiariki
Friday 15th February 2013

Tab Needs to Come Clean on Sonny Bill Fight

Te Ururoa Flavell, MP for Waiariki, has called on the TAB to make a comprehensive statement about its involvement in the Sonny Bill Williams – Francois Botha boxing event on 8 February.

He also wants to know the outcome of the “please explain” request that TAB general manager Martin Saunders promised to demand from the event’s promoters and organisers.

“It’s now clear that this wasn’t a real sporting contest, it was just a money-making machine. And the TAB has to be accountable for its involvement in such a farce.”

Francois Botha’s new claim that he was offered a bribe to lose the fight is the latest in a growing list of irregularities:

• The bout was reduced from 12 to 10 rounds
• Claims that Mr Botha failed a drugs test
• No representative of the sanctioning body was in attendance.

Mr Flavell wants to know how much was wagered on the fight, how much was returned and how much profit was made.

“They should also make an unequivocal statement that there was no suspicious betting activity,” he said today.

“One of the particular risks with sports betting is its potential to corrupt the sporting contests themselves,” said Mr Flavell. “The TAB needs to assure the public that the sporting contests they are taking bets on are squeaky clean."

ENDS

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