The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has today confirmed that unranked British player George Kennedy has been banned from tennis for a total of seven months (three suspended) and fined after admitting to two gambling-related charges.
The disciplinary case was ruled on by Anti-Corruption Officer Jane Mulcahy, QC on 1 December 2020 and found that Mr Kennedy breached two sections of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) by placing bets on tennis matches from accounts in his own name and also on behalf of another individual. She ruled that he should be banned for six months (with three suspended) for one offence and seven months (with three suspended) for the second. The bans will run concurrently.
In addition, he was fined $10,000 with $9,000 suspended for the period of the ban.
The subsequent sanction means that from 1 December 2020, the player is prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies for seven months (with three suspended).
The breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) that Mr Kennedy has been found guilty of are:
Section D.1.a:
“No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, wager, conspire to wager or attempt to wager on the outcome or any other aspect of any Event or any other tennis competition.”
And Section D.1.b:
“No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, facilitate, or conspire to solicit or facilitate any other person to wager on the outcome or any other aspect of any Event or any other tennis competition.”
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 04 December 2020 14:00
