Spanish tennis player, Enrique López Pérez has been banned for eight years after an investigation by the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) found that he had partaken in three separate instances of match fixing activity in 2017. Additionally, he has been fined $25,000 (US).
The disciplinary case was heard by Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Richard McLaren on 5 November 2020. He found that Enrique López Pérez breached the rules of the Tennis Anti-corruption Programme (TACP) three times at tournaments in 2017, with two further charges unproven.
The subsequent sanction means that from today, 1 December 2020, the player is prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis for eight years.
Mr López Pérez who had a highest ATP singles ranking of 154 (13/08/2018) and a highest ATP doubles ranking of 135 (22/04/2019), had been provisionally suspended on 19 December 2019 prior to the hearing.
The breach of the Tennis Anti-corruption Programme (TACP) that Enrique López Pérez has been found guilty of is:
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.”
The Tennis Integrity Unit is an initiative of the Grand Slam Board, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP and the WTA and established to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide. From 1 January 2021, the TIU will become a new, independent body - the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
Ends
Published 01 December 2020 09:00
