Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy entered a guilty plea to two federal felony charges in connection with his bets and tips to others on NBA games. Mr. Donaghy picked teams to win in games he was scheduled to referee. Experts have said that Donaghy committed the equivalent of insider trading on Wall Street by providing outsiders with information about games, players, and referees. He got $5,000 from his tippees for correct picks. Apart from the criminal charges, what category of ethical breach does Mr. Donaghy's conduct fall into?
A) Taking what does not belong to you
B) Conflict of interest
C) Committing interpersonal abuse
D) None of the above

Question

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy entered a guilty plea to two federal felony charges in connection with his bets and tips to others on NBA games.    Mr. Donaghy picked teams to win in games he was scheduled to referee. Experts have said that Donaghy committed the equivalent of insider trading on Wall Street by providing outsiders with information about games, players, and referees. He got $5,000 from his tippees for correct picks. Apart from the criminal charges, what category of ethical breach does Mr. Donaghy's conduct fall into?
A) Taking what does not belong to you
B) Conflict of interest
C) Committing interpersonal abuse
D) None of the above

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mr. Donaghy's conduct falls into the category of conflict of interest as he used his position as a referee to make personal gains. He had a responsibility to remain impartial and ensure that the games he refereed were fair and unbiased. By betting on games he was scheduled to referee, he had a vested interest in the outcome of the game and compromised his ability to make unbiased decisions.

Former NBA Referee Tim Donaghy Entered a Guilty Plea to Two