Jerome Inzerillo, David Guez, Romain Bauvy, Yannick Jankovits, François-Arthur Vibert and Agustin Moyano, have all been formally banned from the sport after the ITIA announced the sanctions, all of which relate to match-fixing, on 31 January.
Detailing the cases, the ITIA said all are linked to the match-fixing syndicate led by Grigor Sargsyan. The criminal case led to the conviction of Sargsyan, who was handed a five-year custodial sentence in 2023. However, the fall-out continues with the ITIA continuing to track down additional players involved in the case.
French tennis players admit to charges
From the latest tranche of players, five admitted to breaches, relating to matches played in 2017 and 2018. Three French tennis players accepted the sanctions, waiving their rights to a hearing before an independent anti-corruption hearing officer (AHO).
Inzerillo, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 354 in July 2012, faces a five-year-and-seven-months ban to May 2030. He was also issued a $50,000 (£40,300/€48,532) fine, with $35,000 of that amount suspended.
Meanwhile, Guez, whose career peaked in July 2010 with a world singles ranking of 116, is being suspended for four years until October 2024. The ITIA also ordered a $25,000 fine, of which $17,500 is suspended.
The third Frenchman, Bauvy faces the same sanction as Guez and will be suspended until November 2028. Bauvy reached a career-high world doubles ranking of 758 in March 2016.
Other players resist but still face bans
The remaining three players have put up some resistance against the ITIA charges. However, they will go the same way as the other players and serve bans from the sport.
Jankovits and Vibert requested their cases be referred to an independent AHO to determine the sanction. In both cases, AHO Janie Soublière ruled each player should face suspensions and fines.
Jankovits, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 226 in September 2015, will be banned until October 2026. Another Frenchman, Jankovits was also fined $28,000, of which $21,000 is suspended.
It was a similar outcome for Vibert, another French player, who is being banned for over two years until September 2026. His $35,000 fine, however, has been partially suspended. Vibert reached a career-high world singles ranking of 591 in September 2021.
The final player – Moyano from Argentina – denied all charges and requested a full hearing. However, AHO Charles Hollander KC ruled on the case, issuing a 15-year ban and $10,000 fine. This means the former world 1,343 singles player will not be eligible again until December 2039.
All six players are now prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA.
Ongoing effort to tackle match-fixing
Since Sargsyan was handed his sentence almost two years ago, the ITIA has continued to track down and penalise players who were involved in the match-fixing syndicate.
Initially, 16 players were banned, including several from Belgium. Arnaud Graisse, Arthur de Greef, Julien Dubail, Romain Barbosa, Maxime Authom, Omar Salman and Alec Witmeur were all convicted by a criminal court in Belgium.
Among other players also hit with sanctions were Alejandro Mendoza Crespo and Jorge Panta Herreros. The pair were named in May last year, with Crespo handed a maximum 20-year ban and Herreros three years.
French player Leny Mitjanam was also banned for 10 years after being found guilty of corruption and match-fixing offences. In addition, Tunisian player Anis Ghorbel was banned for three years over fixing matches in 2016 and 2017.
