Oliver Anderson convicted of tennis match-fixing charges

Oliver Anderson convicted of tennis match-fixing charges  

Independent Hearing Officer rules that 19 months provisional suspension already served by the player is full and final sanction for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program 

Oliver Anderson, the Australian tennis player, has been convicted of match-fixing charges after admitting to deliberately losing the first set of a match at the Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger tournament in Victoria, Australia in October 2016.

Although he went on to win the match and received no financial benefit, his conduct was in breach of the sport’s Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

The disciplinary case against Mr Anderson was adjudicated by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Prof Richard H. McLaren, following an investigation by the Tennis Integrity Unit.

Having found the player guilty of two breaches of the TACP, Prof McLaren has ruled that the 19 months suspension he has already served since being provisionally suspended in February 2017, is a full and final disciplinary sanction.

No further period of exclusion or fine has been imposed, meaning that Mr Anderson is eligible to return to playing professional tennis.

The 20-year old reached a career-high singles ranking of 639 in July 2016.

The breaches of the TACP he committed and has been disciplined for are as follows:

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.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 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."

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.