ITIA announce Egypt co-operation
In April, the ITIA confirmed that it would be working with the Egyptian Tennis Federation to set up a task force which will look at integrity issues in the region. The project will include education and integrity sessions both for Egyptian players, coaches and officials, as well as those visiting the country for tournaments.
https://itia.tennis/news/itia-news/egypt-integrity-task-force/
CEO to depart
It was confirmed in April that the ITIA’s CEO Jonny Gray would be leaving the organisation later this year. Gray was appointed to the job in 2019 to oversee the formation of the ITIA which subsumed the old Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) in 2021 and as of 1 January 2022, has also been responsible for the administration of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.
https://itia.tennis/news/itia-news/jonny-gray/
New Director of Investigations appointed
In June, it was confirmed that Jenni Kennedy will be joining the ITIA as Senior Director of Investigations. Starting in September, Jenni joins the organisation after 15 years at the Football Association (FA) where she headed up their integrity operations across match-fixing, competition manipulation, anti-doping and safeguarding.
Education update
The ITIA’s Education team has worked with both Roland Garros and Wimbledon this quarter to ensure that over 1200 people working at the events, including players, coaches, officials and tournament staff have undertaken up-to-date online integrity training.
The team has also delivered face to face or virtual training to professional players (male and female) ranked from 158 to 2151 and junior players (male and female) ranked from top 10 to 2551, as well as parents of juniors. This has taken place either via webinars or one-to-one sessions.
Sanctions
The ITIA has issued three provisional suspensions under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme in Q2 and one further sanction, relating to the use of cannabis.
Gilbert Soares Klier Junior (BRA) – provisional suspension:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/gibert-soares-klier-junior-provisionally-suspended/
Barbara Gatica Aviles (CHI) – provisional suspension:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/barbara-gatica-aviles-provisional-suspension/
Tara Moore (GBR) – provisional suspension:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/tara-moore-provisional-suspension/
Bastian Malla (CHI) – banned for one month:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/bastian-malla/
Three players and one coach have received provisional suspensions with a further 9 players and one official receiving bans under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.
Coach Sebastian Rivera (CHI) provisionally suspended:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/sebastian-rivera-provisional-suspension/
Two French players provisionally suspended:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/okala-and-lescure-provisionally-suspended/
Adam El Mihdawy (USA) provisionally suspended:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/el-mihdawy-provisional-suspension/
Alberto Emmanuel Alvarado Larin (ELSL) banned for five months for non-cooperation:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/alberto-emmanuel-alvarado-larin-banned/
Portuguese umpire Daniel Zeferino banned for life:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/chair-umpire-banned-for-life/
Six Spanish players banned following law enforcement case in Spain:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/six-spanish-players-banned/
Fernando Bogajo Fernandez (ESP) banned for one year and 10 months:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/fernando-bogajo-fernandez/
Ksenia Palkina (KYR) banned for 16 years with six years suspended:
https://itia.tennis/news/sanctions/ksenia-palkina-banned/
Match alerts
Between April and June 2022, the ITIA received a total of 29 match alerts through its confidential Memoranda of Understanding with the regulated betting industry. This includes one match alert from Roland Garros (Qualifying round).
|
Tournament Type |
Number of Tournaments |
|
ATP – Challenger 100 |
1 |
|
ATP – Challenger 80 |
8 |
|
ATP – World Tour 250 |
1 |
|
Grand Slam – Roland Garros |
1 |
|
M15 Men’s – World Tennis Tour |
13 |
|
M25 – Men’s – World Tennis Tour |
1 |
|
W15 – Women’s – World Tennis Tour |
2 |
|
W25 – Women’s – World Tennis Tour |
1 |
|
WTA – 250 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
29 |
NOTE: these figures do not include The Championships, Wimbledon which will be reported in Q3.
A note about match alerts:
Every alert reported to the ITIA is recorded, assessed and followed up as an indicator that something inappropriate may have happened. It is important to note that an alert on its own is not evidence of match fixing.
Unusual betting patterns can occur for many reasons other than match fixing – for example incorrect odds-setting; well-informed betting; player fitness, fatigue or form; playing conditions and personal circumstances.
The number and distribution of alerts are reported quarterly. Care should be taken in drawing any conclusions about prevailing corruption across the tennis ‘pyramid’ as there are many more matches at the bottom than at the top. More complete analysis will be published in our annual report.
Where analysis of a match alert does suggest corrupt activity, the ITIA conducts a full, confidential investigation.
Testing Programme – Q2
|
|
Total samples |
Men |
Women |
|
In-Competition (urine) |
1,283 |
702 |
581 |
|
In-Competition (blood) |
4 |
2 |
2 |
|
In-Competition (ABP) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Out-of-Competition (urine) |
338 |
178 |
160 |
|
Out-of-Competition (blood) |
327 |
170 |
157 |
|
Out-of-Competition (ABP) |
331 |
174 |
157 |
|
Totals |
2,283 |
1,226 |
1,057 |
These figures outline the number of samples taken from players, not the number of tests (multiple samples can be taken from players when they are tested). All tests undertaken this quarter were done so with no notice.
The ITIA is responsible for the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme across all professional tennis. Tests in Q2 of 2022 took place at events ranging from ITF $15k level to Roland Garros, with in and out of-competition testing undertaken in 37 different countries.
For more information about the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, see the ITIA website
Published 15 July 2022 15:00
