Seven Belgian tennis players have been suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for involvement in match-fixing.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) declared that Arnaud Graisse, Arthur de Greef, Julien Dubail, Romain Barbosa, Maxime Authom, Omar Salman, and Alec Witmeur were guilty at the Audenarde tribunal in June. Their suspensions range from two to four years.
Significantly affected players include Arthur de Greef, who reached 113th place in 2017, and Romain Barbosa, ex-403rd in the ATP in 2016. Both are suspended until the 26th of February 2025 and are handed a fine of $45,000, of which $31,500 is suspended.
Alec Witmeur, who held the world ranking of 1056th in 2011, is suspended until December 26, 2023, alongside a $30,000 fine, with $21,000 being suspended. These three players have been previously suspended, a period included in their penalty.
Arnaud Graisse, unranked, is penalised with a suspension until 1st August 2028, and a fine of $60,000, $42,000 of which is suspended.
Julien Dubail, 371st in 2012, is suspended until July 3, 2027, and fined $45,000, with 31,500 suspended, while Maxime Authom, 143rd in 2013, faces the same suspension period, with a fine amounting to 30,000 dollars, of which 21,000 is suspended.
Omar Salman, 464th in 2018, gets off with a two year and seven month suspension until May 8, 2026, and a 30,000 dollar fine, with 21,000 suspended.
So what happened?
The players admitted their involvement in an extensive case of fraud orchestrated by Grigor Sargsyan, aged 32, who received a five-year prison sentence.
Managed from the Brussels municipality of Saint-Gilles, Sargsyan’s international network grossed significant winnings by rigging at least 375 tennis matches.
Owing to time-constraints, tennis players and most other suspects received a declaration of guilt before the tribunal.
The investigation reflects that between 2014 and 2018, the group actively bribed professional tennis players to manipulate match results and place bets.
Six other gang members received prison sentences up to three years and fines up to €8,000, with confiscations totalling over €10 million.
