Chilean player ranked 1082 ATP singles failed to co-operate with a Tennis Integrity Unit investigation and did not to report a corrupt approach
Chilean tennis player Juan Carlos Saez has been suspended for eight years and fined $12,500 after being found guilty of failing to co-operate with a Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) investigation into potential breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), and of not reporting a corrupt approach.
When interviewed by the TIU in connection with betting alerts on matches he had played in, the 28-year old repeatedly failed to comply with a request to provide his mobile phone for forensic analysis.
Separately, he admitted to receiving a corrupt approach at an ITF Futures tournament in Chile, which he did not report to the authorities, as required under anti-corruption rules.
The disciplinary case was adjudicated by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Professor Richard H. McLaren, who imposed the suspension and fine. As a result of Prof. McLaren’s decision, and with effect from 19 August 2019, Mr Saez is prohibited from competing in or attending any event sanctioned or authorised by the governing bodies of tennis for the full eight year period.
Currently ranked 1082 in ATP singles, the player has a career high of 230 achieved in September 2015.
The breaches of the TACP for which he has been disciplined are:
Section D.2.a.i.- 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 as soon as possible.
Section F.2.b. - All Covered Persons must cooperate fully with investigations conducted by the TIU including giving evidence at hearings, if requested. After a Covered Person receives a TIU request for an initial interview or otherwise becomes aware of any TIU investigation involving the Covered Person, the Covered Person shall (i) preserve and not tamper with, damage, disable, destroy or otherwise alter any evidence (including any personal devices described in Section F.2.c.i.) or other information related to any Corruption Offense and (ii) not solicit, facilitate or advise any other person to fail to preserve, tamper with, damage, disable, destroy or otherwise alter any evidence or other information related to any Corruption Offense.
Section F.2.c. - If the TIU believes that a Covered Person may have committed a Corruption Offense, the TIU may make a Demand to any Covered Person to furnish to the TIU any object or information regarding the alleged Corruption Offense, including, without limitation, (i) personal devices (including mobile telephone(s), tablets and/or laptop computers), (ii) access to any social media accounts and cloud storage held by the Covered Person (including provision of user names and passwords), (iii) hard copy or electronic records relating to the alleged Corruption Offense (including, without limitation, itemized telephone billing statements, text of SMS and What’s App messages received and sent, banking statements, Internet service records), computers, tablets, hard drives and other electronic information storage devices, and (iv) a written statement setting forth the facts and circumstances with respect to the alleged Corruption Offense. The Covered Person shall furnish such information immediately, where practical to do so, or within such other time as may be set by the TIU. Any information furnished to the TIU shall be (i) kept confidential except when it becomes necessary to disclose such information in furtherance of the prosecution of a Corruption Offense, or when such information is reported to administrative, professional, or judicial authorities pursuant to an investigation or prosecution of non-sporting laws or regulations and (ii) used solely for the purposes of the investigation and prosecution of a Corruption Offense.
The Tennis Integrity Unit is an initiative of the Grand Slam Board, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP and the WTA, who are jointly committed to a zero tolerance approach to corruption in tennis.
Published 20 August 2019 07:30
