The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has banned
Tunisia’s Anis Ghorbel for three years and fined him $20,000 for breaching four
anti-corruption protocols.
Last year, the world of tennis was rocked by reports of
mega match-fixing scandals which included as many as 180 players.
In the latest development, Ghorbel became another player to
face punishment for breaching four codes of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program
(TACP). He was charged with fixing tennis matches in 2016 and 2017 and he
contested the charges.
To contest those charges, Ghorbel appeared in front of the Anti-Corruption
Officer (AHO) in December last year. However, that move went in vain as he has
now been banned for three years which means by the time he will be allowed to
play tennis again, he will be aged 37.
During his ban, the 34-year-old will not be allowed to participate in or attend a tennis event organised by an authorised member of the ITIA.
Previously in November 2023, former Mexican player Alberto
Rojas Maldonado was also banned from the sport and was fined $250,000 for breaching
more than 90 codes of the TACP.
Ghorbel never managed
to win a single match while playing on the ATP tour. However, he lifted one title
while playing on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) tour and his highest
ranking was 479.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.