SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced that it has suspended both Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley.
The players’ suspensions are provisional, pending decision on sanction, after being found to have committed 25 and 15 breaches respectively of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) between 2015 – 2020.
The decision by the ITIA – the independent body established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to safeguard the integrity of the sport on a global scale – was made following reports that the pair had not obeyed G.4.a of the TACP 2023.
The rule states: “In the event that the Covered Person is found liable of one or more of the charges against them and sanction is not determined at the same time as the decision on liability, the AHO, either of the AHO’s own volition or on an application by the ITIA, must impose a Provisional Suspension pending the final decision on sanction.”
Both of a professional standard, Nastja Kolar is a Slovenian player, and Alexandra Riley is from the US.
The decision was made by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Ian Mill KC, who found that the pair had been contriving aspects of matches, wagering, facilitating wagering, courtsiding, conspiracy and failing to report corrupt approaches.
“The decision on sanctions for both players will follow in due course,” the governing body added.
Meanwhile, from 14 March 2023, both players have been provisionally suspended meaning they are prohibited from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis events organised or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport for now.
Similarly, in January this year, the agency also banned two Algerian tennis players as the result of investigations into match-fixing.
The ITIA put in place a lifetime ban for Mohamed Hassan, and a two-year ban for Houria Boukholda (with 18 months suspended). Additionally, Hassan was fined $12,100 and Boukholda fined $10,000, with several alleged incidents of this illegal activity since 2016.
