Date: 03.02.2025

by Sebastian Warowny

Six Tennis Players Receive Bans in Belgian Match-Fixing Probe

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued suspensions and fines to six individuals linked to a match-fixing network, marking another phase in a long-running investigation.

Moyano Receives 15-Year Ban

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Friday that six current and former tennis players have been sanctioned for involvement in a match-fixing syndicate operated by convicted Belgian organizer Grigor Sargsyan. The latest penalties bring the total number of disciplined players to approximately 30 since the probe began.

Argentine player Agustin Moyano, 34, faced the harshest punishment: a 15-year suspension and a $10,000 fine. Moyano, whose career-high ATP ranking was 1,343 in 2015, denied the charges and pursued a formal hearing. The ITIA ruled against him, citing evidence of breaches related to matches connected to Sargsyan’s syndicate.

Five Others Admit to Rules Violations

Five additional players—David Guez, Jérôme Inzerillo, Romain Bauvy, Yannick Jankovits, and François-Arthur Vibert—accepted sanctions after admitting to match-fixing offenses spanning 2017–2018. Their bans range from two years to five years and seven months.

Former French player David Guez, 42, received a four-year suspension and a 25,000fine,with17,500 suspended. Guez, who retired in 2018, peaked at No. 116 in the ATP rankings in 2010 and earned over $800,000 in prize money during his career.

The remaining four players, all of whom had lower rankings, received shorter bans.

Sargsyan’s Network

The penalties stem from a years-long investigation into Sargsyan’s operation, which authorities dismantled in 2021. Sargsyan, described as a central figure in coordinating match-fixing across Europe, is serving a five-year prison sentence in Belgium. The ITIA emphasized that the syndicate targeted lower-tier tournaments, where players are more vulnerable to financial incentives.

Friday’s rulings underscore ongoing challenges in combating corruption in tennis, particularly at the sport’s lower levels. The ITIA stated it continues to collaborate with law enforcement and gambling regulators to identify further breaches.