Recently, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the suspension of Antonio Casa, a Brazilian referee with Italian nationality, for seven years and six months.
Thus, he received the penalty after acknowledging the accusations of corruption and betting-related violations.
According to the ITIA, Casa was fined 25 thousand dollars, with 17 thousand dollars subject to suspension, for violating the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). He served as a referee in $15 and $25 thousand ITF tournaments and as a line judge in Challengers.
The agency stated that the referee admitted to seven violations, including attempted corruption, manipulating betting scores and facilitating bets.
As a result, Casa is banned from refereeing matches and participating in authorized tennis events until September 27, 2031.
The Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) issued a statement clarifying that Casa, born in Brazil, never participated in the entity’s arbitration courses nor played in amateur, youth or professional tournaments in the country.
The suspension of a referee for involvement in corruption and betting is a blow to the integrity of the sport. This highlights the importance of strict measures to prevent and punish illicit activities, thus protecting credibility and honesty in sport.
The ITIA maintains constant vigilance over the integrity of the sport, actively collaborating with federations and authorities to ensure that tennis is played in a fair and transparent manner.
About the International Tennis Integrity Agency
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) safeguards the integrity of professional sport around the world. The Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) is in place to protect the sport against corruption.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of players, coaches, officials and other professionals to be aware of and comply with the TACP rules.
In other words, the Tennis Anti-Doping Program is now managed and enforced by the ITIA on behalf of the ATP (Professional Tennis Players Association), WTA (Women’s Tennis Association), ITF (International Tennis Federation) and Grand Slams.
