ITIA Bans Algerian Tennis Player for Illegal Bets

Algerian tennis player Hichem Yasri was sanctioned by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for illegal betting. The player received a 3-month ban along with a fine of $5,000, the latter of which was suspended on the condition that there are no further breaches. The ITIA found out that Yasri was placing bets on tennis, which is in violation of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program rules.

Tennis Integrity Watchdog Sanctions Algerian Player Hichem Yasri

The ITIA announced on Wednesday that it sanctioned Algerian tennis player Hichem Yasri after it discovered that he had breached the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) rules by placing sports bets. Consequently, the agency banned him for three months.

Besides the ban, the governing body fined him $5,000, suspended on the condition of no further breaches. Although the sanction was announced yesterday, the ban is effective from 28 July 2021 through 27 October 2021. Yasri is prohibited from playing, coaching or attending any event sanctioned by the tennis governing bodies in that period.

Yasri Found Guilty for Placing Bets on Tennis Matches

The ITIA found out that Yasri, who has the highest ATP ranking of 1864, has been placing bets on tennis matches, which is against the TACP rules. The governing body found the player guilty of breaching rule D.1.a that forbids covered person to “directly or indirectly, wager on the outcome or any other aspect of any Event or any other tennis competition.”

According to the ITIA, Yasri did not place bets on matches he has participated in or had inside information on. Although the player has the right to appeal the ITIA’s decision to an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer, Yasri chose not to go down this path. The ITIA outlined that this case was dealt with under the expedited process in the TACP that allows it to introduce a fine of up to $10,000, as well as suspension of no more than six months.

The latest sanction comes after, last month, the ITIA provisionally suspended Peruvian tennis player Mauricio Echazu Puente. Before that, the ITIA banned Temur Ismailov for life in July over TACP breaches dating back to 2019. Again in July, the ITIA sanctioned Amal Sultanbekov, who received a 5-year ban, along with an $8,000 fine. Both players were found to have breached D.1.k, D.1.d, D.2.a.i, relating to agreeing to contrive or contriving the outcome of an event, as well as reporting incidents when a player is offered to fix the outcome of an event.