ITIA issues provisional suspension for two professional players

The international body safeguarding the integrity of tennis events around the world, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), announced new sanctions against two professional players. Last week, the integrity watchdog revealed it decided to provisionally suspend Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley, over breaches related to the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

According to a statement released by the ITIA, the provisional suspension was enforced under section G.4.a of the TACP 2023. This section states: "In the event that the Covered Person is found liable of one or more of the charges against them and sanction is not determined at the same time as the decision on liability, the AHO, either of the AHO’s own volition or on an application by the ITIA, must impose a Provisional Suspension pending the final decision on sanction."

According to the tennis integrity watchdog, Kolar committed 25 breaches of the TACP rules, while Riley was responsible for 15 breaches. The TACP breaches, the ITIA said, occurred between 2015 and 2020.

The latest decision to suspend the two players was ruled by Ian Mill KC, an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer. He uncovered that Riley, a US player, along with Kolar, a Slovenian player, "collectively breached various TACP rules which included contriving aspects of matches, wagering, facilitating wagering, courtsiding, conspiracy and failing to report corrupt approaches."

Given the breaches of the TACP rules, the two tennis players were provisionally suspended from the sport. The suspension is in effect starting from March 14, 2023, ITIA explained. During the suspension period, the duo is prohibited from attending or competing in any events that are sanctioned, recognized or organized by the international governing bodies of the sport.

It's important to mention that the suspension doesn't mean that a sanction against the players has been imposed. Instead, it obstructs them from competing within the sport until a decision on sanction is taken. The ITIA said that the decision on sanction against the duo will be released "in due course."

The provisional suspension comes after last month, the ITIA issued a penalty against a professional tennis player after uncovering a record number of breaches. Back in February, the integrity watchdog found Younes Rachidi, a Moroccan tennis player, guilty of a record number of 135 match-fixing offenses.

This marked the highest number of breaches ever detected by ITIA or the Tennis Integrity Unit, the ITIA's predecessor. The breaches resulted in a harsh penalty with Rachidi receiving a lifetime ban from the sport along with a $34,000 fine.

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