The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Spanish tennis player Fernando Bogajo Fernandez has received a one year and 10 months ban after admitting offences related to the fixing of a match in 2018. In addition, the player was fined $3,000 with an additional $5,000 suspended on the basis that he commits no further breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) rules.
The case was dealt with under the 2022 TACP ‘Proposal for Disposition’ framework. This allows for a sanction to be handed down from the ITIA to the player upon admission of guilt, without the need for a hearing.
Mr Bogajo Fernandez had a highest ATP ranking of 901 and admitted to taking money for not producing his best efforts in a match in 2018 and failing to report the approach.
As a result of being provisionally suspended since December 2019, he is able to resume his involvement in tennis immediately.
The breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program rules that Mr Bogajo Fernandez has admitted to are:
Section D.1.d of the 2018 TACP: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.”
Section D.1.f of the 2018 TACP: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or accept any money, benefit or Consideration with the intention of negatively influencing a Player's best efforts in any Event.”
Section D.2.a.i of the 2018 TACP: “In the event any Player is approached by any person who offers or provides any type of money, benefit or Consideration to a Player to (i) influence the outcome or any other aspect of any Event, or (ii) provide Inside Information, it shall be the Player's obligation to report such incident to the TIU [Now ITIA] as soon as possible.”
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 05 May 2022 14:00
