Sports

NEW YORK (AP) ― A review of the NBA's officiating program found no evidence of illegal activity by any referee other than Tim Donaghy, though it recommended significant changes for monitoring gambling and game integrity.

The report, compiled over 14 months by former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz, called for the creation of a "culture of compliance" and closer scrutiny of games for suspicious activity.

Pedowitz made three key recommendations to the league: create a hot line to anonymously raise questions about gambling and game integrity issues; make available any complaints the league receives about refs — beginning in the 2008-09 playoffs — to both teams to avoid suspicions of bias; provide more access to referees for both fans and media.

The report also suggests mandatory gambling education for players. "We believe that gambling can expose the players and the League to significant risks, and therefore it is important that players be educated regarding those risks," the report says.

Commissioner David Stern ordered the investigation last year after former referee Donaghy was charged with betting on games he officiated and providing inside information to gambling associates to win their bets. He's currently serving a 15-month sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce.

"These measures are a beginning, not an end," Stern said in a statement. "We know that the NBA's success hinges on the integrity of our sport and on competition that allows teams to win based on their own skill and performance. We expect nothing less from our referees than the highest level of accuracy, professionalism and integrity."

The report agreed with the federal government that there was no evidence that Donaghy made any calls to affect the outcome of games after studying his work in 17 of them, including 16 during the 2006-07 in which it was believed Donaghy made picks.

Pedowitz's firm conducted more than 200 interviews with referees, and team and league personnel to complete the 133-page report.

The release of the report was delayed in response to Donaghy's accusations, so some of the changes Pedowitz suggested have already been made, such as the restructuring of the referees operations department and the clarifying of rules involving casino gambling.

Although the report found referees broke league rules involving casino gambling, none of their activities reached the criminal level. It disputed Donaghy's allegations of specific misconduct and favoritism toward certain players and teams, but warned "because the potential for referee bias remains a threat to the integrity of the game, the League can do more."

Army Major General (Ret.) Ronald L. Johnson, who served 32 years in the Army, was hired over the summer as senior vice president, referee operations in response to the investigation. Longtime ref Bernie Fryer became the NBA's vice president and director of officials, and Joe Borgia was appointed vice president of referee operations.

Stern has asked Pedowitz to review the new program at the end of the season.

The NBA learned in June 2007 that Donaghy was being investigated by the FBI. Though the commissioner maintained from the start that Donaghy was the only criminal, he appointed Pedowitz and his firm two months later to investigate the entire referee operations department.

Pedowitz's team completed its work months ago. However, the league was advised not to release its findings until the federal government had conducted its own investigation, which concluded with Donaghy's recent sentencing.

The league had hoped by then that Donaghy would agree to speak to the investigators, but he never did.

The report was further delayed after Stern ordered referees to be re-interviewed after Donaghy's lawyer released a letter during the NBA finals accusing officials of rigging playoff series in 2002 and '05 to ensure better TV ratings.

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