Five French Tennis Players Receive Sanctions Over Match-Fixing Scandal
Five French tennis players have received bans for match-fixing offenses committed between 2017 and 2018. The sanctions follow a criminal investigation in Belgium.
Yannick Thivant Banned for Life
Yannick Thivant, formerly ranked No. 590 in the world, has been permanently banned from tennis. He admitted to fixing 22 matches, including 16 of his own. The decision came from Professor Richard McLaren, an independent hearing officer.
In his ruling, McLaren stated,
“the facts in this matter require that the most serious sanctions be imposed.”
Thivant also received a $75,000 fine and must pay €37,400 in restitution. His suspension started on 14 February 2025.
Consequences for other Players
Thomas Brechemier, who once reached No. 399 in singles, admitted to fixing 11 matches. As a result, he received a seven-and-a-half-year suspension. He was also fined $40,000, with $27,500 of that amount suspended.
His sanction began on 12 February 2025 and will end in August 2032. The ruling came from hearing officer Ian Mill KC.
Gabriel Petit, formerly ranked No. 450, did not respond to formal charges from the ITIA. Because of that, he automatically received a six-and-a-half-year suspension and a $35,000 fine. Petit was found responsible for fixing seven matches during the 2017–2018 period.
The decision was issued on 21 March 2025 by AHO Charles Hollander KC. His suspension will last until September 2031.
Thomas Setodji, who peaked at No. 794 in July 2024, was found guilty of fixing three matches in 2017. He also failed to report a corrupt approach in 2018. As a result, he was suspended for 10 years and fined $20,000. Additionally, he must pay €5,500 in restitution.
His suspension took effect on 1 April 2025 and will run until March 2035.
Hugo Daubias, whose highest singles ranking was No. 972, admitted to fixing two matches in 2017. He did not contest the charges and accepted a two-year ban. He was also fined $15,000.
The penalty began on 21 March 2025 and will end in March 2027.
Broader Context of the Investigation
These cases are linked to a wider investigation into match-fixing led by Belgian authorities. It focused on a criminal group run by Grigor Sargsyan, who received a five-year prison sentence in 2023.
The ITIA worked closely with Belgian prosecutors throughout the case. Their cooperation helped uncover how the syndicate influenced lower-tier professional tennis.