ITIA Smacks Argentinian Tennis Pro With 4-Year Ban For Match Fixing

Tennis has been seriously grappling with the problem of match-fixing. Hence the introduction of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The agency has wasted no time in cracking the whip on players who have been proven to be involved in this vice that is detrimental for the sport. More recently, Argentine Pro Nicolas Arreche was slapped with a 4-year ban for match-fixing offenses

Here’s all you need to know about this incident;

 Mr. Arreche was handed an initial suspension by Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Professor Richard McLaen in 2021. This was when it initially came to light that Mr. Nicholas Arreche might have been involved in match-fixing. The said incidents took place between the years 2017 and 2019. Mr. Arreche was found to be guilty of a breach of the tennis anti-corruption program. More specifically, the International Tennis integrity Agency cited two sections of its rules that Mr. Arreche had directly contravened. These are;

• Section D 1.d of the 2019 TACP Act states “No covered person shall directly or indirectly contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome of any other aspect of any event.”
• Section D 2. a.i of the 2017 and 2018 TACP act states “ In the event, any player is approached by any person who offers or provides any type of money, benefit or consideration to a player to

                         i.  Influence the outcome or any other aspect of any event or

                        ii.  Provide inside information it shall be the player's obligation to report such incident to the ITIA as soon as possible.

The specifics for this ban entail that Mr. Nicolas Arreche will not be able to play in or attend any matches organized by any International Tennis governing body for the entire 4 years. This will come as a big blow to the Argentine pro, who at the time of this ban was ranked 612 on the ATP standing having previously achieved a career-high ranking of 567. He will also have to incur a fine of $8000.

What does the Future Hold for the Tennis Match-Fixing Problem?

Nicolas Arreche’s case is only one of a myriad of cases that have now become predominant in the tennis world. It comes hot on the heels of Mexican Roberto Santino Quintana and Peruvian Mauricio Echazu being slapped with a 2 year and 2-year three-month suspension from tennis respectively. They all committed similar offenses of match-fixing as is the case with Nicolas Arreche.

The ITIA prides itself in upholding the Integrity of Tennis as a sport. It however has a long way to go if the cases being reported are to go by. Make no mistake about it, there have been high-profile cases with the 2018 suspension of then 78th ATP ranking Nicholas Kicker coming to mind. He was handed a six-year suspension from tennis with 3 of the 6 years being suspended for match-fixing. He also got slapped with a fine of  $25000. The cases are not limited to minor competitions though. In 2020, the French Open, one of Tennis’ Grand slam tournaments was marred by claims of match-fixing. The claims were so serious to the point that they led to the intervention of the French police. This led them to make an arrest of Russian Yani Sizikowa. The match-fixing claims involved doubles, ladies match pitying Sizikowa and her American partner Madison Brengle against Romanian counterparts Andreea Mitu and Patricia Mari.

More recently and still high profile, Wimbledon 2021 also saw claims of investigation for match-fixing according to a report by German newspaper Die Weltt. 6 Moroccan men were also banned for match-fixing in 2021 including 4 who had participated in the Davis cup.

It’s safe to say that match-fixing will be a problem, but the apparent proactiveness by ITIA serves to help shelve some of the concerns we may have about the future of a sport that many love.