Harri Syväsalmi has joined a WDSF Presidential Task Force set up to deal with competition manipulation ©WDSF

Former World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director general Harri Syväsalmi has been appointed to help establish a task force set up by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) to help combat competition manipulation.

The 64-year-old Finn was the first director general of WADA after it was officially established in 2000 and worked there until 2003. 

He was chairman of the Working Group for the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions and he is currently chairing the European Union Expert Group on Match-Fixing.

In his current capacity as secretary general of the Finnish Centre for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS) he is setting up a Governmental hybrid that is unique in the world in as far as its mission is concerned. 

FINCIS is chiefly responsible for advocating and enforcing ethical principles in Finnish sport, carrying out anti-doping activities, preventing match-fixing and promoting spectator safety and security, among other things.

"Much thought has gone into defining different profiles for task force members capable to each make diverse but relevant contributions that in their sum can bring us forward,” WDSF President Lukas Hinder said. 

"Then it is a matter of finding the best person possible for every profile.

"With Mr Harri Syväsalmi we have been able to get an expert with a truly distinguished background in promoting ethical conduct in sports to join our team."

WDSF President Lukas Hinder has warned competition manipulation is a growing problem ©WDSF
WDSF President Lukas Hinder has warned competition manipulation is a growing problem ©WDSF

Hinder set up the Presidential Task Force in April to deal with the problem of rigged judging in the dance sport. 

Among the areas the Task Force will look at is the systems of judging, education and qualification of judges,selection of judges and and enforcement of all applicable codes and standards of ethics.

"The problem is as old as our sport," Hinder wrote in a letter to WDSF members. 

"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!"