Six Players Suspended By ITIA As Part Of Giant Match-Fixing Syndicate
News
The integrity of tennis is back in the spotlight after six players were banned for partaking in match-fixing activities.
It would be understandable if fans forgot that the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) deals with corruption and doping issues, as the latter has dominated the headlines in recent months.
However, the news about six players breaching anti-corruption regulations made this clear. None of those involved were highly ranked, but that does not make the story insignificant or unworthy of attention.
All the players suspended in the story were linked to a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. The ITIA collaborated with the Belgian authorities, helping to ensure that the syndicate's leader, Grigor Sargsyan, received a five-year custodial sentence.
The anti-corruption breaches relate to matches in 2017 and 2018. Five of the six players sanctioned admitted to wrongdoing. That meant they received less severe punishment, but their suspensions were still significant.
David Guez was the most successful of the sanctioned players. In 2010, he reached a career-high ranking of No. 116. The 42-year-old accepted an agreed-upon four-year suspension, which began on 25 October 2024, and a $25,000 fine, $17,500 of which was suspended.
Former world No. 354 Jerome Inzerillo was banned for five years and seven months, starting on 27 October 2024. He was also fined $50,000, but $35,000 was suspended.
30-year-old Romain Bauvy, a former No. 758 in doubles, received the same four-year ban as Guez. That suspension started on November 6, 2024. He could be young enough to return in four years, but Bauvy's lack of career achievements makes that unlikely.
Yannick Jankovits and Francois-Arthur Vibert requested that their cases be referred to an independent anti-corruption hearing officer. Both players received shorter sentences, although it is uncertain if requesting the referral played a role.
Jankovits, who reached No. 226 in the singles rankings, was suspended for two years and fined $28,000, of which $21,000 was suspended. Vibert received a two-year and three-month ban and a $35,000 fine, $28,000 of it suspended.
Agustin Moyano was the only man to deny the charges and request a hearing. That led to him being given a hefty 15-year ban. Moyano never broke into the Top 1000, and his denial looks to have been based on personal pride rather than an attempt to save his tennis career.
Most of the focus on the ITIA has been about Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek's doping scandals. The ITIA initially cleared Sinner of wrongdoing when he tested positive twice for clostebol at the 2024 Indian Wells Open.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) disagreed with the verdict and appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Sinner's appeal hearing is scheduled for April 16th and 17th.
Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension from the ITIA in November after successfully proving that melatonin tablets she purchased from a Polish drug company were contaminated with trimetazidine.
WADA announced during the 2025 Australian Open that it would not be appealing the case, putting an end to Swiatek's stressful ordeal.
