ITIA Bans Seven Belgian Tennis Players for Match-fixing

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed that seven Belgian tennis players have been suspended from the sport after admitting to breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

The sanctions are linked to a recently concluded criminal case involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. Collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for the leader of the syndicate, Grigor Sargsyan.

All seven players – Arnaud Graisse, Arthur de Greef, Julien Dubail, Romain Barbosa, Maxime Authom, Omar Salman and Alec Witmeur – were convicted by the criminal court and have subsequently agreed sanctions with the ITIA.

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Three players – Witmeur, de Greef and Barbosa – have been provisionally suspended by an AHO since May 2021 when they were formally charged in the criminal process in Belgium, as they were active players at that time. Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against these players’ periods of ineligibility. Witmeur admitted to six breaches of the TACP, while de Greef and Barbosa both admitted to nine breaches.

As such, their sanctions are as follows:

• Arthur de Greef, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 113 in 2017, has been suspended for three years and nine months, and fined $45,000 with $31,500 suspended. De Greef’s suspension ends on 26 February 2025.
• Romain Barbosa, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 403 in 2016, has been suspended for three years and nine months, and fined $45,000 – with $31,500 suspended. Barbosa’s suspension ends on 26 February 2025.
• Alec Witmeur, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 1056 in 2011, has been suspended for two years and seven months, and fined $30,000 – with $21,000 suspended. Witmeur’s suspension ends on 26 December 2023.

For the remaining four players – Graisse (12 breaches), Dubail (nine breaches), Salman (six breaches) and Authom (six breaches) – the sanctions take effect from the date of their agreed sanction.

Their sanctions are as follows:

• Arnaud Graisse, unranked, has been suspended for four years and 10 months, and fined $60,000 – with $42,000 suspended. Graisse’s suspension began on 2 October 2023, and will end on 1 August 2028.
• Julien Dubail, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 371 in 2012, has been suspended for three years and nine months, and fined $45,000 – with $31,500 suspended. Dubail’s suspension began on 4 October 2023, and will end on 3 July 2027.
• Maxime Authom, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 143 in 2013, has been suspended for three years and nine months, and fined $30,000 – with $21,000 suspended. Authom’s suspension began on 28 October 2023 and will end on 27 July 2027.
• Omar Salman, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 464 in 2018, has been suspended for two years and seven months, and fined $30,000 – with $21,000 suspended. Salman’s suspension began on 9 October 2023, and will end on 8 May 2026.

These sanctions conclude ITIA proceedings against Belgian players in relation to the Sargsyan match-fixing ring, though syndicate cases relating to players from outside Belgium remain ongoing.

During the players’ suspensions, they are prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA: ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open, or any national association.