The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced that it has suspended seven Belgian tennis players following breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
According to a statement released by the ITIA, the suspensions were handed out following the conclusion of a criminal case which centered on a match-fixing syndicate which was based in Belgium. The case resulted in a prison sentence for the syndicate ring leader Grigor Sargsyan.
The seven players were all convicted in criminal court and have now agreed sanction deals with the ITIA.
- Arnaud Graisse – 12 breaches, 4 years 10 months suspension, $60,000 fine ($42,000 suspended)
- Arthur de Greef – 9 breaches, 3 years suspension, $45,000 fine ($31,500 suspended)
- Julien Dubail – 9 breaches, 3 years 9 months, $45,000 fine ($31,500 suspended)
- Romain Barbosa – 9 breaches, 3 years 9 months suspension, $45,000 fine ($31,500 suspended)
- Maxime Authom – 6 breaches, 3 years 9 months suspension, $30,000 fine ($21,000 suspended)
- Omar Salman – 6 breaches, 2 years 7 months suspension, $30,000 fine ($21,000 suspended)
- Alec Witmeur – 6 breaches, 2 years 7 months suspension, $30,000 fine ($21,000 suspended)
All players are now prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA: ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open, or any national association.
Latest in String of ITIA Sanctions
Earlier this month, the ITIA banned three players for match-fixing activity while in August French tennis player Alexis Musialek was banned from tennis for life following 39 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
Earlier in May, the ITIA banned umpire Heriberto Morales Churata from Bolivia for six years and fined $10,000 after an investigation found that he manipulated scores for betting purposes. The ITIA revealed that the umpire entered incorrect scores into his handheld device at ITF World Tennis Tour events that took place in 2021 and 2022.
In March, Slovenian player Nastja Kolar and U.S. player Alexandra Riley were found to have committed 25 and 15 breaches of the rules respectively between 2015 and 2020. Both players were provisionally suspended.
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