The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have confirmed that six Moroccan tennis players have been banned for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) rules.
The cases were ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Charles Hollander QC, who after a hearing ruled that:
Amine Ahouda is banned for 11 years and fined $5,000 USD.
Anas Chakrouni is banned for 10 years and fined $5,000 USD.
Ayoub Chakrouni is banned for life and fined $10,000 USD.
Mohamed Zakaria Khalil is banned for 9 years and fined $5,000 USD.
Soufiane El Mesbahi is banned for 9 years and fined $5,000 USD.
Yassir Kilani is banned for 9 years and fined $5,000 USD.
The sanctions mean that the players are prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by any international tennis governing body or national association for the length of their bans.
Mr Hollander found that the players were guilty of multiple offenses and a variety of match fixing charges, including fixing elements of matches, receiving money for fixing and failing to report corrupt approaches. The ITIA investigation found that the players’ offences were linked and therefore were subject to a joint hearing.
The players’ suspensions begin from the date of their provisional suspension – 13 July 2021 and they have 20 business days from the date of receipt of the decision to lodge any appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The players were found to have breached the following TACP rules:
Amine Ahouda (age 24, highest ATP ranking 668)
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.e of the 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 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 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 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.
Section D.2.a.ii of the 2018 TACP: In the event any Player knows or suspects that any other Covered Person or other individual has committed a Corruption Offense, it shall be the Player's obligation to report such knowledge or suspicion to the TIU as soon as possible.
Anas Chakrouni (age 22, highest ITF ranking 2553)
Section D.1.d of the 2017 TACP: 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 of the 2017 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.
Section D.2.a.ii of the 2017 TACP: In the event any Player knows or suspects that any other Covered Person or other individual has committed a Corruption Offense, it shall be the Player's obligation to report such knowledge or suspicion to the TIU [Now ITIA] as soon as possible.
Ayoub Chakrouni (age 30, highest ATP ranking 1098)
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.e of the 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 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 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 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
Section D.2.a.ii of the 2018 TACP: In the event any Player knows or suspects that any other Covered Person or other individual has committed a Corruption Offense, it shall be the Player's obligation to report such knowledge or suspicion to the TIU [Now ITIA] as soon as possible.
Mohamed Zakaria Khalil (age 22, highest ITF ranking 576)
Section D.1.d of the 2017 TACP: 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 of the 2017 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.
Section D.2.a.ii of the 2017 TACP: In the event any Player knows or suspects that any other Covered Person or other individual has committed a Corruption Offense, it shall be the Player's obligation to report such knowledge or suspicion to the TIU [Now ITIA] as soon as possible.
Soufiane El Mesbahi (age 20, highest ATP ranking 1465)
Section D.1.d of the 2017 TACP: 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 of the 2017 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.
Section D.2.a.ii of the 2017 TACP: In the event any Player knows or suspects that any other Covered Person or other individual has committed a Corruption Offense, it shall be the Player's obligation to report such knowledge or suspicion to the TIU [Now ITIA] as soon as possible.
Yassir Kilani (age 21, highest ATP ranking 1317)
Section D.1.d of the 2017 TACP: 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 of the 2017 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.
Section D.2.a.ii of the 2017 TACP: In the event any Player knows or suspects that any other Covered Person or other individual has committed a Corruption Offense, it shall be the Player's obligation to report such knowledge or suspicion 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.
Published 14 December 2021 16:00
