On May 6, a tennis match-fixing case flashed of six tennis players who were found associated with match-fixing. Among six, two are ranked players and the other four are under-ranked players who were found guilty. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said that all six accused players are charged with match-fixing.
One of the most significant infiltrations of tennis by organised crime that we have seen,
ITIA CEO stated
International Tennis Integrity Agency is responsible for the safeguarding of tennis worldwide. The players were all given two-year suspended prison sentences, as well as a fine. The players have been found accused in the Spanish court as well as all six are Spanish. The two highest ATP ranking players are Marc Fornell Mestres (236) and Jorge Marse Vidri (562). The other under-ranked players are Carlos Ortega, Jaime Ortega, Marcos Torralbo and Pedro Bernabe Franco.
All the six will not be able to get involved in any international or national tennis tournaments along with no coaching in the professional game. The details of long term bans and fines over these players by ITIA:
- Marc Fornell Mestres is banned from tennis for 22 years and six months and fined $250,000 – with $200,000 suspended.
- Jorge Marse Vidri is banned from tennis for 15 years and fined $15,000 – with $5,000 suspended.
- Carlos Ortega is banned from tennis for 15 years and fined $150,000 – with $140,000 suspended.
- Jaime Ortega is banned from tennis for 7 years and six months and fined $100,000 – with $90,000 suspended.
- Marcos Tarralbo is banned from tennis for 15 years and fined $100,000 – with $85,000 suspended.
- Pedro Bernabe Franco is banned from tennis for 15 years and fined $100,000 – with $75,000 suspended.
the message is clear: match fixing can lead to a jail sentence and can end your career in tennis. It also serves as a warning that organised crime is targeting sport, and governments and law enforcement agencies, as well as anti-corruption bodies in sport, need to take that threat seriously.
ITIA Chair Jennie Price commented
Also read: ATP vs WTA: Similarities and differences
Have a great day ahead!
