Two tennis players suspended for match fixing
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has today confirmed that two tennis players Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley have been provisionally suspended from the sport, pending decision on sanction after being found to have committed 25 and 15 breaches respectively of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) between 2015 and 2020.
The decision was made by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Ian Mill KC, who found that Slovenian player Kolar and US player Riley had collectively breached various TACP rules which included contriving aspects of matches, wagering, facilitating wagering, courtsiding, conspiracy and failing to report corrupt approaches. The decision on sanctions for both players will follow in due course.
In the meantime, as of 14 March 2023 both players are provisionally suspended and therefore prohibited from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis events organised or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport.
The provisional suspension was granted under section G.4.a of the TACP 2023:
“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.”
The ITIA is an independent body established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.