Match-Fixing Scandal Rocks the Tennis World Yet Again as 3 Asian Tennis Players Slapped With Heavy Fines

Match fixing is like a fungus to the sporting world. It has been a major threat to the integrity of the racket sport over the past few years. With the introduction of the online betting market, this thing has become even more complicated. Everyone knows about the amount of money involved at the top level in tennis but few of them know about the players who are much lower ranked. These lower-ranked and underpaid players are the most common victims of match-fixing. How to protect the integrity of the sport?

International Tennis Integrity Agency, is an independent body established in 2021 by International Governing Bodies of Professional Tennis. Its purpose is to safeguard the integrity of the sport worldwide. ITIA confirmed on November 1, that three players were sanctioned and fined following their breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). Who are they?

Israel, Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan players slapped with fines after their multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program

A few months back, ITIA had provisionally suspended Timur Khabibulin (KAZ), Sanjar Fayziev (UZB), and Igor Smilansky (ISR). Now they are finally sanctioned for their match-fixing cases in the past. Janie Soubliere, an independent Anti Corruption Hearing Officer took the ultimate decision, and here’s what it says.

Timur Khabibulin faced stringent actions after they found him liable for 21 individual charges of match-fixing from 2014 through 2019. He had the highest ATP ranking in doubles of 154 and now he is facing a ban from the sport for a lifetime. Adding salt to his wounds is the $60,000 fine attached along with it. Sanjar Fayziev reached his career peak of 253 in ATP singles ranking in 2017 and is also facing a ban for over 3 years and a fine of $ 15,000. The 28YO from Israel, Smilansky got banned for two years with a $ 4,000 fine (with $1000 suspended).

The actions taken from an instantaneous decision have made a stain for a lifetime in racket sport. Three players involved were found of wagering and inaction against corrupt approaches. During this tenure of their ban, they are prohibited from playing, coaching, or attending any tennis program authorized or sanctioned by the members of ITIA.

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The dark side of tennis

Match-fixing has been a major concern in tennis since 2003 when it was first reported by The Sunday Telegraph. The Tennis Integrity Unit was set up in 2008. Its purpose was to investigate the rising problem in the sport for the coming days. Since then there have been multiple cases of match fixing staining the image of tennis in the world of sports. Daniel Kollerer from Austria was the first player to receive a lifetime ban because of this. In 2021, ITIA took over the responsibility of combating corruption in tennis.

Grigor Sargsyan, the man who is called ‘The Maestro‘ for building the biggest match-fixing ring in tennis got arrested recently. During his reign, the industry skyrocketed to a $50 Billion industry in a flash. But even after strict actions and preventive measures, we are witnessing multiple such cases of fixing recently. 29-year-old Slovenian tennis player Nastja Kolar and American tennis player Alexandra Riley were banned from tennis for a lifetime earlier this year because of similar cases. When will these things end completely? This is the question from all the tennis lovers to the authorities and players involved with the evil-eyed monster in sport.

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