David Gorsic, a Slovenian former player, and Steven Nguyen, an inactive Australian national-level official, have been charged. Both admitted to betting on tennis while covered by the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP).
Gorsic, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1,399 back in 2015, admitted to betting between 2017 and 2018.
He faces a six-month ban, three months of which are suspended. This means he will not be eligible between 21 May and 20 August. He has also been fined $5,000 (£3,926/€4,660), with $3,500 of that figure suspended.
Nguyen, who has officiated at ITF junior, wheelchair and W25 events, was found to have bet on tennis between 2021 and 2023. He will serve a three-month sanction – from 23 May to 22 August – and pay a $2,000 fine, with $1,400 of that suspended.
The ITIA did not disclose any further information on the cases. However, it did confirm that the sanctions prohibit both Gorsic and Nguyen from officiating at or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA.
ITIA continues to tackle tennis corruption
The sanctions are the latest issued by the ITIA as part of its crackdown on corruption and betting-related offences.
Just last month, the ITIA handed Venezuelan official Armando Belardi a lifetime ban from tennis. This came after he was charged with 26 breaches of the TACP.
Also in May, Italian player Emanuele Bastia was suspended for four months and two weeks after admitting to wagering on tennis. Meanwhile, Austrian wheelchair tennis player Nico Langmann accepted a fine for breaching betting sponsorship rules.
Other recent cases include a lifetime ban for Alejandro Mendoza Crespo and three-year ban for Jorge Panta Herreros. Both cases are linked to a wider syndicate in Belgium, which led to its leader, Grigor Sargsyan, being given a five-year custodial sentence.
Following sentencing, seven players were banned in November for varying durations. This was after they were found to have breached the TACP.
A host of other players have faced similar charges in the months that have followed.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/sustainable-gambling/sports-integrity/itia-issues-sanctions-over-tennis-betting-offences/
