The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended Tunisian player Anis Ghorbel for three years over corruption linked to the wider match-fixing case in Belgium.
Ghorbel was found guilty of four breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP). The ITIA said this warranted the suspension and a $20,000 (£15,743/€18,365) fine.
The suspension runs from the date of the decision (4 January) to 3 January 2027.
The offences relate to the fixing of matches in 2016 and 2017. Ghorbel, who has a career-high world singles ranking of 479 in 2016, denies all charges.
Specific breaches of the TACP include two related to section D.2.a.i – failure to report a corrupt approach. The ITIA also noted a single breach of section D.1.b, facilitating betting on the outcome of a match, and section D.1.d of contriving the outcome or aspect of a match.
The suspension means Ghorbel cannot play in, coach at or attend tennis events authorised by ITIA members or national associations.
Charges mount up over tennis match-fixing
Ghorbel is the latest tennis player facing sanctions over the criminal case involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium, Collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for syndicate leader Grigor Sargsyan.
The crackdown began following Sargsyan’s conviction in November. This saw an initial 16 players banned in November 2023, as reported by iGB, first on the on 13 November, then on 17 November and on 24 November.
Other recent charges include those filed against French tennis player Leny Mitjana. He was banned for 10 years after being found guilty of corruption and match-fixing offences.
In total, the ITIA has banned 22 players and officials in the last three months over the same case.
