A participant from Serbia has been given a 24-year suspension from tennis – probably the most extreme punishments imposed by anti-corruption investigators outdoors of a lifetime ban – for match-fixing.
Stefan Milicevic, who reached a career-high world rating of 1,338th in 2014, was charged with fixing six matches, together with 5 during which he was competing.
The 29-year-old, who performed on the decrease rungs of the skilled ladder, was additionally charged with trying to repair an extra six matches between 2022 and 2024.
Together with the match-fixing, the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) mentioned Milicevic was additionally charged with recruiting or trying to recruit a number of skilled gamers “as a part of a corrupt community”.
Gamers who have been recruited by Milicevic have additionally been accused by the ITIA of fixing matches.
The severity of Milicevic’s sanction is partly right down to an absence of co-operation within the investigation.
The ITIA mentioned he “didn’t interact” within the course of regardless of seven separate makes an attempt from the impartial organisation to contact him.
Milicevic, who additionally obtained a £53,000 effective, can’t participate within the sport till his ban ends in October 2050, by which era he will likely be 53 years outdated.
Whereas suspended, he isn’t allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any occasions organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any nationwide affiliation.
In December, French participant Quentin Folliot was banned for 20 years, exterior after the ITIA found he was a central determine in a community of gamers working on behalf of a match-fixing syndicate.
Foillot, who reached a career-high of 488 within the rankings in 2022, denied prices referring to 11 matches which passed off between 2022 and 2024, together with eight which he performed in.
Nonetheless, at a listening to, some 27 of the 30 prices in opposition to him, referring to 10 of the 11 matches, have been upheld.
