Nikita Kryvonos suspended and fined for tennis corruption offences
931-ranked player found to have contrived the outcome of a match and failed to co-operate with a TIU investigation
American tennis player Nikita Kryvonos (30) has been banned for 10 years and fined US$20,000 after being found guilty of breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (Program).
A Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) investigation established that the player colluded with third parties to contrive the outcome of a match at the ATP Challenger event in Champaign, Illinois, USA in November 2015. This coincided with suspicious betting activity in several countries on the match in question.
As a result of failing to supply his mobile phone records and other documentation requested, Mr Kryvonos was further charged with failing to co-operate with a TIU investigation.
The case was considered by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Professor Richard H. McLaren at a Hearing held in London on 27 April. His decision and applicable sanctions were published today, 18 May 2017.
Following his failure to co-operate with the TIU, Mr Kryvonos was provisionally suspended from playing professional tennis on 30 November 2015. The 10-year suspension imposed today has therefore been backdated to include this period of exclusion. It will expire on 29 November 2025.
During that period he is not allowed to compete in or attend any tournament or event organised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of the sport.
Mr Kryvonos achieved a career-high singles ranking of 389 in 2007. His most recent ranking was 931 in 2015.
The breaches of the Program for which he has been penalised are:
Section D.1.d: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event
Section D.2.c: For the avoidance of doubt, (i) a failure of the Reporting Obligation by any Covered Person; and/or (ii) a failure of the duty to cooperate under Section F.2 shall constitute a Corruption Offense for all purposes of the Program.
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 18 May 2017 16:20
