Community service for former Belgian 3x3 team captain over tournament fraud
Antwerp Criminal Court has sentenced the former captain of the Belgian 3x3 basketball team to 240 hours of community service for organising fictitious tournaments and forging Covid-19 certificates ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
In 2019, the team manipulated the world rankings by entering 27 fake tournaments on FIBA’s website between 31 August and 30 October. These phantom events boosted their standing, securing a spot in Olympic qualifying tournaments.
Nick Celis, the administrator of the email address used for the fraud, admitted to creating the fake events with assistance from teammates Thierry Mariën and Anthony Chada. An employee of Basketball Flanders was aware of the scheme and provided guidance.
The investigation also exposed forged Covid-19 certificates by the team physiotherapist, enabling four players, including Celis and Mariën, to participate in tournaments during the pandemic.
The Basketball Flanders employee received 240 hours of community service, while the physiotherapist and two players involved in certificate forgery received suspended sentences. Celis, Mariën, Chada and the Basketball Flanders employee were fined up to 8,000 euros, partially suspended.
The court dismissed claims for damages by Basketball Flanders and Basketball Belgium, saying that federation members were aware of the fraud but took little action.
#FlandersNewsService | Nick Celis at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, July 2021 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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