The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has today confirmed that two Algerian tennis players have been banned from the sport following investigations into multiple incidents of match fixing since 2016. Mohamed Hassan has been banned for life from the sport and Houria Boukholda banned for two years (with 18 months suspended). In addition to the bans, Hassan was fined $12,100 and Boukholda fined $10,000 (with $9,000 suspended).
The cases were ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Janie Soublière and the sanctions mean that both players are prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis. Neither individual engaged with the process nor responded to the charges.
27-year-old Hassan, who had a highest ATP ranking of 1476 was found guilty of 29 offences relating to seven matches between 2016 and 2018 and 20 year old Boukholda found guilty of 15 offences relating to five matches in 2017 and 2018. Due to Boukholda’s age and inexperience at the time of the offences, it was determined that the player was influenced by Hassan and was therefore given a more lenient sanction. Evidence of the offences came to light as part of ongoing law enforcement investigations in Belgium.
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.
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
Mohamed Hassan was found guilty of a total of 29 breaches of the following Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) clauses:
Section D.1.d of the 2016, 2017 and 2018 TACP: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive the outcome, or any other aspect, of any Event.
Section D.1.e of the 2017 and 2018 TACP: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or facilitate any Player to not use his or her best efforts in any Event.
Section D.1.f of the 2017 and 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.1.g of the 2017 and 2018 TACP: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, offer or provide any money, benefit or Consideration to any other Covered Person with the intention of negatively influencing a Player's best efforts in any Event.
Section D.2.a.i of the 2016, 2017 and 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.
Houria Boukholda was found guilty of a total of 15 breaches of Sections D.1.d, D.1.f and D.2.a.i of the 2017 and 2018 TACPs.
Published 11 January 2023 15:00
