International Tennis Integrity Agency bans Slovakian player for match-fixing

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued Slovakian tennis player Barbora Palcatova with a three-year ban from the sport with 15 months suspended, after the player was found guilty of match-fixing, making her the 10th player to be banned by the ITIA this year.

The breach of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) that Palcatova was found guilty of states that no person shall contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any tennis event.

The sanction means she will be prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis for the period of the suspension, including the WTA and ITF.

Palcatova has a current International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles ranking of 1685, and a doubles ranking of 1046.

In addition to her 3-year ban from the sport, she was ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 (£3,612/€4,232), with $3,500 of this suspended.

Palcatova’s is the latest in a series of sanctions brought forward against tennis players found to be in breach of the TACP throughout 2021.

Early January saw a trio of players, from Egypt, Slovakia and Uzbekistan, banned for offences related to sports betting and match-fixing.

Two Russian players were subsequently banned for match-fixing, including in matches which saw the pair play as doubles partners.

Another Russian player, Nikita Gudozhnikov, was then issued with a 30-month ban in February for failure to co-operate with an integrity investigation.

In March, lifetime bans were brought forward against Nigerian players Abiodun Oyegoke and Bukola Popoola, after both were found to be guilty of match-fixing offences.

Then last week, Venezuelan player Roberto Maytín was issued with a 14-year ban by the ITIA, following multiple breaches of the TACP rules.

Original Article