The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued sanctions to two US tennis coaches for breaching tennis’ betting sponsorship rules. Bob Bryan and Mardy Fish have both been fined $10,000 and issued with suspended bans of four months after acknowledging the promotion of a gaming operator on social media. Both individuals co-operated fully with the ITIA investigation and removed the posts immediately.
The suspensions do not come into force unless there is a further breach during the four-month period, which started on 11 November 2022.
Both had been accredited as part of the US Davis Cup coaching team in 2022, meaning they are considered “covered persons” and subject to the sport’s rules around relationships with betting operators.
Section D.1.b of the 2022 Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) rules states that:
“No Covered Person shall directly or indirectly, facilitate, encourage and/or promote Tennis Betting (‘Facilitation’).”
Fish and Bryan have also agreed to work with the ITIA to assist with education and prevention initiatives to highlight the importance of integrity in the game.
The ITIA is an independent body established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.
Ends
Published 29 November 2022 15:00
