VA at the Undermining Festival: how do we keep bad actors out?

One of the abuses in the combat sports world that led to a crisis in the sport and to the founding of the Vechtsportautoriteit (Dutch Combat Sports Authority) was the mixing of the criminal underworld and the legitimate world that was sometimes observed around the ring. In that context, the Vechtsportautoriteit was recently invited to explain at the Undermining Festival (Ondermijningsfestival) of the Dutch national police in The Hague what is being done to counter this.

In the past, the combat sports sector suffered from shady figures who used events, among other things, for their dubious practices. Attempts were made to launder money, and authorities found that some criminals misused galas as a "networking opportunity". Situations that the sector combats through firm mutual agreements, including in the VA covenants, and in close consultation with local authorities.

The Undermining Festival recently held in The Hague was an opportunity for various police services and other government bodies to exchange knowledge and experience about forms of crime that affect people's confidence in society, in specific sectors and in government.

There was an information market, and presentations were given on subjects including the recognition of human trafficking, the impact of money laundering through retail businesses, and the complex network behind cigarette smuggling. On behalf of the Vechtsportautoriteit, Marcel Scholtes and Barry Smit gave presentations on the instruments the VA uses to keep the combat sports world out of the grip of bad actors.

An audience consisting mainly of detectives was told which requirements now apply to events and how these contribute to cleaning up the sector. This concerns, among other things, the enforcement of strict safety requirements and financial transparency, which are checked by independent audit teams. It was also explained how, from 2020 onwards, the quality mark for combat sports gyms will be used to make our sport steadily healthier and safer.