23-year old ranked 804 in ATP singles fixed matches and failed to co-operate with a TIU investigation
Tunisian tennis player Majed Kilani has been banned from all professional tennis for seven years and fined $7,000 after being found guilty of match-fixing charges.
The fine must be repaid at the rate of $1,000 per year over the seven years of the player’s suspension.
A Tennis Integrity Unit investigation established that Mr Kilani conspired with a third party to manipulate the outcome of matches played at an ITF Futures tournament in Egypt in August 2016.
In addition to the match-fixing offences, Mr Kilani was also found to have failed to fully co-operate with a TIU investigation into the corruption allegations against him.
The case was adjudicated by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Prof Richard McLaren at a disciplinary Hearing held by videoconference on 21 May 2020.
His findings of guilt and subsequent sanction means that with effect from 25 June 2020 Mr Kilani is prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis for a period of seven years.
The 23-year old is currently ranked 804 in ATP singles and 528 in doubles, both of which are career bests.
The relevant Sections of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) covering the offences are as follows:
Section D.1.d of the 2016 TACP: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.”
Section F.2.b of the 2018 TACP: “All Covered Persons must co-operate fully with investigations conducted by the TIU including giving evidence at hearings, if requested. No Covered Person shall (i)tamper with, damage, disable, destroy or otherwise alter any evidence or other information related to any Corruption Offense or (ii) solicit or facilitate any other person to tamper with, damage, disable, destroy or otherwise alter any evidence or other information related to any Corruption Offense.”
The Tennis Integrity Unit is an initiative of the ATP, WTA, ITF and Grand Slam Board, who are jointly committed to a zero tolerance approach to betting-related corruption in professional tennis.
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Published 26 June 2020 14:00
