A spying scandal has hit Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) with two officials stood down.
UC Capitals head coach Paul Goriss and referee Simon Cosier have been sanctioned by Basketball Australia following an investigation into a serious integrity breach.
They were found guilty of “engaging in prohibited conduct… by misusing inside information and engaging in conduct that would impair public confidence in the integrity and good character of basketball and its participants”.
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The investigation found referee Cosier gave confidential video footage to Goriss, which showed the Sydney Uni Flames training.
The footage had been given to the referees for “education purposes” but Cosier illegally gave it to Goriss to give the Capitals coach a leg-up on the competition.
Cosier has been banned from refereeing in the WNBL again this season. Goriss is suspended until January 20.
“In issuing the sanctions, the (investigating) panel found that no actual advantage was obtained by Goriss or the UC Capitals,” Basketball Australia said.
The pair have two weeks to appeal the penalties.
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