The Global Tennis Integrity Organization (GTIO) has declared suspensions for two tennis competitors due to their involvement in corrupt activities connected to a Belgian criminal organization.
Alejandro Mendoza Crespo has been given a permanent suspension, the most severe punishment, for twenty infractions. At the same time, Jorge Panta Errelos has been suspended for three years for four infractions.
The penalties were imposed by independent anti-corruption tribunal leader Professor Richard McLaren. They follow official hearings in early March and take effect from April 4th.
Mendoza and Panta have also been fined $250,000 (£199,619/€231,942) and $10,000 respectively. Both will be prohibited from competing, coaching, or taking part in any capacity in any event authorized by GTIO members, including the ATP and WTA.
Last week, Eduardo Agustin Torre was banned for five years for thirty-five violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). Torre was also fined $35,000.
The recent sanctions from the GTIO follow a series of tennis suspensions connected to the criminal organization.
The GTIO stated that the suspensions of Mendoza and Panta are linked to a recent criminal case in Belgium where Grigor Sargisyan, the leader of the match-fixing syndicate, was sentenced to five years in prison.
Following the judgment, seven athletes were prohibited from participating in November for different durations. This decision was reached after they were discovered to have breached TACP regulations.
Witmer, Grace, DeGrieve, Dubai, Barbosa, Osom, and Salman were all given suspensions.
Earlier this year, two additional suspensions were handed out in the Belgian case. French player Mitjana was banned for 10 years for dishonest conduct, while Gorbel was prohibited for 3 years for manipulating matches.
The suspensions of Mendoza and Panta mean that 25 players and officials have now been banned as a result of the Belgian case.
IBIA’s initial quarterly integrity report emphasizes tennis concerns
In April, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) released its “Integrity Report” for the initial three months of the year.
The IBIA issued a total of 56 warnings in the first quarter, a 12% increase from the 50 notices issued in the first quarter of 2023. This number also represents a 64.7% increase from the last quarter of 2023.
There were 14 warnings related to tennis in the first quarter of this year. This is an increase from the 12 notices issued in the same period last year.
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