SWEDEN Law and Practice Contributed by: Karl Ole Möller, Nordia Law
1. Regulatory 1.1 Anti-Doping
1.2 Integrity Sweden ratified the Council of Europe’s Macolin Convention in December 2024. The Convention is the only legally binding international frame - work dedicated to combating the manipulation of sports competitions. It promotes collabora - tion among governments, sports organisations and betting operators to address suspicious activities. The ratification of this Convention strengthens Sweden’s ability to fight match- fixing through enhanced international co-oper - ation. Sweden adopted a new Gambling Act in 2019, introducing specific criminal provisions related to match-fixing. Match-fixing and other manipu - lation of sports activities previously had no spe - cific and separate penal provision in the Crimi - nal Code. Under the provisions of the Gambling Act, anyone who takes inappropriate actions to manipulate the outcome of a game that is sub - ject to licence requirements under the Act may be jailed for a maximum of six years for cheating (ie, gambling fraud). The Gambling Act is supervised by the Swed - ish Gambling Authority. The Authority has cre - ated a special council concerning match-fixing and may halt and/or prohibit specific types of betting. Match-fixing continues to be a major concern in Sweden (as it is internationally) and may in the long run damage the credibility of the sports movement and cause losses to other stakeholders, such as the gambling industry. Efforts to prevent match-fixing are complicated when operations are run in different countries. Match-fixing also often involves organised crime and the associated risk of threats and pressure against individual athletes and other officials. The betting companies must monitor the gam - bling market in a satisfactory manner and report
Doping is a criminal offence under the Swed - ish Doping Act. However, the Act only criminal - ises certain specific doping substances such as anabolic steroids, testosterone and growth hor - mones. These substances may not be imported, transferred, manufactured, offered for sale, etc. Anyone wilfully contravening the Act may be sentenced to a maximum of six years’ impris - onment. Sweden adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Code (the “WADA Code” ) in 2004. The Swed - ish national governing bodies (NGB) regulatory framework (based on the WADA Code) generally apply to all athletes who engage in competitive sports in Sweden. Doping within sports is monitored by the Swed - ish Anti-Doping Agency (the “ADSE” ). Its primary purpose is to ensure that sports in Sweden are free from doping. The ADSE is responsible for implementing the WADA Code, conducting dop - ing controls, investigating doping misuse, and providing education and information on anti- doping matters. The ADSE investigates all posi - tive doping results and decides whether the mat - ter should be reported for disciplinary action to the Doping Panel (the first instance penal body for cases involving anti-doping rule violations within sports). The Doping Panel’s decision may be appealed to the Supreme Sports Tribunal by the convicted person or by the ADSE. The Supreme Sports Tribunal is normally the final instance body. Depending on the circumstances of the case, it may also sometimes be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (the “CAS” ). However, the CAS may dismiss the case.
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