The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) can today confirm that Algerian tennis player Mohamed Ali Abibsi has been suspended for a period of two years and six months and fined $10,000 for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
Abibsi, who held a career-high world singles ranking of 1438 in 2023, was charged with failure to comply with a demand and failure to co-operate with an ITIA investigation. A hearing was held before independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Ian Mill KC on 25 January 2024, following which AHO Mill upheld both ITIA charges. A further hearing was held on 14 March 2024, where both parties made their cases on the appropriate sanction.
Having found Abibsi liable for breaches of the TACP related to failure to co-operate with an ITIA investigation, including refusal to submit personal devices for examination when issued a written request to do so by ITIA investigators, AHO Mill imposed a two-year and six-month suspension and a fine of $10,000.
Abibsi has been provisionally suspended since 19 May 2023, and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against the period of ineligibility. As such, the suspension will end at midnight of 18 November 2025.
During the period of ineligibility, the player is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.
The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.
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Published 22 May 2024 13:00
