Mexican tennis player suspended for three years for match-fixing
Photo: CRN News

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found Mexican tennis player and coach Mauricio Astorga guilty of violating match-fixing rules and he now faces a three-year suspension from the sport.

In addition to the ban, which covers playing or attending any international tennis event sanctioned by a national regulatory body or association, Astorga was also fined $1,500.

According to independent Anti-Corruption Auditor Janie Soublière, the player, whose highest ranking was 687 in the world rankings in 2013, was found guilty of violating four separate rules established by the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.

Soublière found the player guilty of receiving money for a 2015 tennis match, as well as not reporting a corrupt approach. Furthermore, Astorga was found guilty of not cooperating with the investigation.

Tennis player may appeal punishment for match-fixing

The player chose not to contest the charges, but will now have 20 days to file an appeal guaranteed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Your punishment will end in October 2024.

This isn’t the first time tennis has gained prominence as a result of match-fixing scandals. Between 2018 and 2020, five players were banned for participating in match-fixing activities, while former world number 3 Nikolay Davydenko was cleared of the charges in 2008.

On a broader scale, a total of 26,000 matches were the subject of an investigation in 2016 after allegations of suspicious betting activity at major tournaments like Wimbledon by Italian and Russian betting unions.

About ITIA

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) is an independent organization established by Organs international tennis bodies to promote, oversee and ensure the integrity of the sport at a professional level worldwide.