Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that the World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman) has agreed to forfeit $2,761,910 in lottery proceeds to the United States government. According to a sworn complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Ironman illegally charged athletes for a chance to win the opportunity to compete in the “Ironman World Championship,” held each October in Hawaii.

According to the complaint, Ironman, the company that organizes, promotes, and licenses “Ironman” triathlons around the world, has agreed to forfeit to the United States lottery proceeds that it has earned since October 24, 2012. Ironman charged athletes, who did not otherwise qualify, $50 to enter lotteries for the chance to compete in the Ironman World Championship. Thousands of athletes purchased multiple entries. Ironman would have been permitted to give away the opportunity to compete in the race, but violated the law when it charged athletes money for the chance to win.

Ironman cooperated fully in the investigation and voluntarily provided all information necessary to allow the parties to promptly resolve the matter.

The case was investigated by Assistant United States Attorneys James A. Muench and Natalie Hirt Adams, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.