In a letter circulated to his fellow members of the WDSF Presidium, Hinder admitted the sport had been aware of the problem for a long time.

"The problem is as old as our sport," Hinder, who has been attending the SportAccord Convention here, wrote. 

"It was with us from day one, in our best moments as well as in the worst.

"There it was, frequently stirring debate, occasionally creating controversy.

"But now it puts in question everything we stand for.

"Having whom we consider to be the best and the brightest standing floorside and adjudicating our competitions came at a high price.

"It always did, but in view of recent developments, this price has gone up exponentially.

"So much in fact that we may well arrive at the watershed moment: we either rise to the occasion or else … Change or be changed!"

Hinder claimed the WDSF believed coach education was at the heart of ensuring competition manipulation did not ruin dance sport.

"Over the past few years, this Federation has been working harder than ever to improve the process of judging the performances put in by our athletes," he wrote.

"It has done so comprehensively: from the very fundamentals of how an assessment is made to the education, qualification and selection of those making it.

"We have also gone to great length in trying to instil appropriate ethical values in everyone who officiates at our competitions.

"But even with our new, transparent and fair system of adjudication finally in place, the scourge of bias and favouritism seems to hit us with more virulence than ever.

"The worst we can do is to shrug it off as the 'old' problem persisting in spite of our many efforts to overcome the flaws in previous systems."

Hinder plans to lead the task force himself. 

"Our sport cannot afford that results are put in question, that adjudicators stand accused of partiality, or that athletes stay away from competition because they perceive a panel of adjudicators to be compromised," he said. 

"Competition manipulation in whatever form is totally unacceptable."