Tennis witnessing a decline in betting fraud, says ITIA.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), previously known as TIU (Tennis Integrity Unit), reported a decline in suspicious betting cases in the first quarter of 2021. There were 23 reports during this period, compared to 38 in the first quarter of 2020. However, match-fixing still prevails, as multiple player bans have already taken place in 2021. Here's a summary:
Betting Mafia on the Retreat?
The ITIA has seen a decrease in suspicious betting reports in the first three months of 2021. Only 23 matches had unusual bets or questionable player behavior. Notably, the Australian Open wasn't affected. The ATP World Tour 250 witnessed four of these cases, mainly featuring top-ranked players. There were also entries from ITF M15 Men's World Tennis Tour, ITF M15 Women's Tour, ATP Challenger 50, and ATP Challenger 80.
The ITIA connects unusual betting patterns to match-fixing. These patterns involve aspects like unusual odds, high stakes, player fitness, fatigue, playing conditions, and personal circumstances. If a warning message points towards corruption, a comprehensive, confidential investigation is undertaken. The agency has already imposed penalties for match-fixing and betting manipulation this year. The ITIA, a part of IGB (International Governing Body), consisting of ITF, ATP, WTA, and the four Grand Slam tournaments, replaced TIU in January 2021 and aims to prevent corruption in tennis, collect information, and investigate match-fixing. From 2022, they'll also manage the anti-doping program for tennis.
2021: Defeat for Tennis Cheats
Some professional tennis players have fallen victim to the ITIA's vigilance this year. Russian tennis players Sofia Dmitrieva and Alija Merdeeva received lifetime bans for their involvement in multiple match-fixing incidents. Merdeeva, who had a highest WTA singles ranking of 928 and a highest WTA doubles ranking of 644, was convicted of two incidents. Dmitrieva, with WTA single ranking of 1,191 and doubles ranking of 939, faced six charges. Both players failed to cooperate adequately with the ITIA's investigations, leading to their lifelong bans.
Venezuelan player Roberto Maytín, highest ranked 86th on the WTA doubles list, received a 14-year ban for attempting to manipulate matches and failing to report suspicious incidents to the ITIA. Slovak tennis player Barbora Palcatova, currently at 1685th in the ITF singles rankings and 1046th in doubles, was slapped with a three-year ban, 15 months of which are suspended. She faced ITIA regulations breaches and was fined $5,000.
Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) enforces stringent rules. Players are barred from manipulating match results, encouraging others not to perform their best, and must report any approach from a person offering money, benefits, or considerations for match-fixing. All registered players must cooperate with the Integrity Department.
Persistent Threat of Match-Fixing
Europol, a European law enforcement agency, raised concerns about match-fixing in tennis last year. The ZDF, a German broadcaster, reinforced these worries in their January report on match-fixing in tennis. Low earnings for mid-level players fueled their likelihood of engaging in match-fixing. Swiss tennis pro Johan Nikles (23), recently ranked 500th in the ATP rankings, confirmed the issue, stating that the leaked list of scandals was only the beginning. Thousands of tennis players found it difficult to make ends meet, while match-fixing could quickly yield substantial earnings.
It's not hard to cheat in tennis either. Sometimes, betting on just one game within a single set is enough. To sway the odds in a specific direction, a player could pretend to be injured between two games or sets. So, the ZDF scandal list wouldn't shock Nikles.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
