The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced bans on six current and former tennis players for involvement in a match-fixing syndicate. The suspensions vary in length and are part of an ongoing crackdown on corruption in professional tennis. The latest sanctions bring the total number of players punished in this case to approximately 30. The match-fixing ring was led by Grigor Sargsyan, who has already been sentenced to five years in prison.
Players Sanctioned
Five of the six players sanctioned admitted to breaching anti-corruption rules, while one contested the charges and was handed the longest suspension. The affected players include:
Agustin Moyano, a 34-year-old from Argentina, received a 15-year suspension and a $10,000 fine after denying the charges and requesting a full hearing. His suspension runs from December 2, 2024, to December 1, 2039. Moyano, who reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 1,343 in 2015, was found guilty of multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
Jerome Inzerillo, a former world No. 354 from France, now 34 years old, accepted a five-year, seven-month ban and a $50,000 fine, of which $35,000 is suspended. His suspension runs from October 27, 2024, to May 26, 2030.
David Guez, a former world No. 116 from France, aged 42, received a four-year suspension and a $25,000 fine, with $17,500 suspended. His suspension runs from October 25, 2024, to October 24, 2028. Guez, who earned over $800,000 in prize money during his career, has not played an official match since 2018.
Romain Bauvy, a 30-year-old from France who achieved a career-high doubles ranking of 758 in 2016, received the same punishment as Guez. His suspension runs from November 6, 2024, to November 5, 2028.
Yannick Jankovits, a 38-year-old former world No. 226 from France, was suspended for two years and fined $28,000, with $21,000 of the fine suspended. His suspension is effective from October 21, 2024, to October 20, 2026.
Francois-Arthur Vibert, a former World No. 591 from France, aged 34, was handed a two-year, three-month suspension and a $35,000 fine, with $28,500 suspended. His suspension runs from June 12, 2024, to September 11, 2026.
Consequences And ITIA’s Role
During their suspensions, the players are prohibited from participating in, coaching at, or attending any professional tennis events authorized by governing bodies such as the ATP, WTA, ITF, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon, and the USTA.
The ITIA, an independent organization dedicated to upholding the integrity of professional tennis, has been working closely with Belgian authorities to investigate and dismantle match-fixing networks. This latest round of bans is a testament to the agency’s ongoing commitment to preserving the sport’s credibility and ensuring fair competition at all levels.
After this verdict, ITIA will now shift their focus towards the decision on Jannik Sinner’s future. The World No. 1 has an ongoing doping scandal since last August, when it was leaked into the press that he had tested positive twice for clostebol.
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
