SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has issued a fresh crack down on corruption in the sport after issuing a fine and a suspension to players found to be in contravention of regulations.
Issuing a $51,250 (£41,000) fine to former world No 50 Anna Tatishvili and a nine month suspension to German tennis player Osman Torski, the TIU has focused upon enforcing the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
Tatishvili was hit with the fine, which roughly equates to her entire first-round earnings of the French Open, after being found to be performing “below professional standards” during the Australian Grand Slam. The American had previously undergone ankle surgery prior to the tournament.
Using a protected ranking to enter the tournament, Grand Slam rules dictate that the match referee is able to issue fines to a player entering a tournament using a protected ranking if they are not deemed fit enough to play.
Rules have recently been altered by the TIU, preventing players from competing in the first round of a Grand Slam when injured or ill to collect the prize money.
As part of the new rules, if a player withdraws from the competition beforehand, they share the first-round prize money with another player who takes their place rather than risk forfeiting their earnings.
Torski, meanwhile, has been hit with a nine month suspension after being fund to have committed a corruption offence under the terms of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
The German tennis player was found to have attempted to influence the outcome of a match he played at an ITF Germany F15 Futures tournament in October 2017. Six months of the suspension have been put on hold providing that Torski commits no further breaches of the TACP.
Having looked at the case, Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Prof. Richard McLaren imposed the suspension, which is effective from 29 May 2019.
The relevant section of the TACP he was found to have breached is: Section D.1.d: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.”
