Swedish ATP player Dragos Nicolae Madaras, who predominantly features on the ITF Tour, has been provisionally suspended from the sport on anti-corruption charges.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which is the umbrella organization tasked to protect and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis, relayed the news in a statement published on Wednesday, September 27th, that the World No. 220 has been serving the provisional suspension since mid-August.
Dragos Nicolae Madaras is a household name in the lower tiers of professional tennis. He is 26, and was born in Romania, but represents Sweden. With a previous career-high ranking of No. 191, Madaras has put together a fabulous year on the ITF Tour.
He won a record 10 ITF titles in 2023 before his provisional suspension - the most of any man at that level in a single calendar year. The ITIA revealed its reason for imposing the suspension as failure to comply with a demand.
"The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Swedish tennis player Dragos Nicolae Madaras has been provisionally suspended from the sport, pending the full consideration of Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) charges."
"Since 17 August 2023, the player has been prohibited from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis events organized by the governing bodies of the sport. The provisional suspension was imposed under Section F.3.b.i.1. of the TACP: F.3.b.i.1. The Covered Person has failed to comply with a Demand."
Additionally, the ITIA also confirmed that the player appealed the provisional suspension but it was immediately denied by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Professor Richard McLaren just a week ago.
Madaras isn't the only Swedish player under the ITIA's microscope and who has been provisionally suspended. Back in July, former World No. 51 Mikael Ymer was suspended for up to 18 months for breach of anti-doping regulations as a result of missing three out-of-competition doping tests. But Madaras' case of anti-corruption charge is just as newsworthy as it is staggering given the kind of the year he was having.
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