O’Leary escapes ban for Olympic wager

Irish sailor Peter O’Leary has escaped a ban by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after he bet on a competitor to win a race at the 2008 Beijing Games.

O’Leary was only given a warning after the IOC decided there was no proof of any competition fixing and cited “special circumstances”.

The Cork sailor, who did not qualify for the medal race on which he gambled, won €3,600 after he backed the British boat to win gold in the Star class.