Several tennis players suspended for breaching Tennis Anti-Corruption Program

Five tennis players have been suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for violating policies set by the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

The sanctions are linked to a criminal case heard in 2023 involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. Collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for the leader of the syndicate, Grigor Sargsyan. The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.

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Some players have been handed five-year suspensions

The players involved admitted to policy breaches and accepted an agreed sanction - waiving their right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO). All charges brought forward were related to matches played in 2017 and/or 2018, and were centered around contriving the outcome of matches, facilitating betting, accepting money in exchange for not giving best efforts, and failure to report corrupt approaches. The sanctioned players are listed below.

Iván Endara
The 36-year old Ecuadorian reached a career-high world singles ranking of 367 in July 2015, has been suspended for five years, and fined $15,000. The suspension began on 26 July 2024, and will expire on 25 July 2029.

Mauricio Reséndiz Domínguez
The 29-year old Mexico native reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1305 in October 2016, has been suspended for five years, and fined $15,000. The suspension began on 15 July 2024, and will expire on 14 July 2029. 

Raúl Isaías Rosas-Zarur
The 35-year old Mexican reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1425 in March 2018, has been suspended for five years, and fined $15,000. The suspension began on 24 July 2024, and will expire on 23 July 2029.

Ivar Aramburu Contreras
Also hailing from Mexico, the 30-year old reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1244 in August 2022, has been suspended for two years and two months, and fined $44,000 - of which $30,800 is suspended. The suspension began on 8 January 2024, and will expire on 7 March 2026.

Aitor Aramburu Contreras
The 32-year old from Mexico reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1663 in March 2018, has been suspended for one year and 10 months, and fined $36,000 - of which $25,200 is suspended. The suspension began on 8 February 2024, and will expire on 7 December 2025.   

The aforementioned players are prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association during their periods of ineligibility.

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