Five tennis players sanctioned by ITIA over match-fixing

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Thursday that five tennis players have faced disciplinary action for violating the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). The players were penalized in connection with a criminal investigation conducted in Belgium during 2023, which uncovered a match-fixing ring.

Earlier this year, Bulgarian official Stefan Milanov and French player Leny Mitjana were suspended due to their involvement in the case. The recent sanctions imposed on the five additional players are directly related to the same investigation, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within the sport of tennis.

"All individuals admitted to breaches and accepted and agreed sanction - waiving their right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer," the ITIA said in a statement.

"All charges relate to matches played in 2017 and/or 2018, and relate to contriving the outcome of matches, facilitating betting, accepting money in exchange for not giving best efforts, and failure to report corrupt approaches."

Ivan Endara, a tennis player from Ecuador who achieved his highest singles ranking of 367 in the world in 2015, has been handed a five-year suspension along with two Mexican players, Mauricio Resendiz and Raul Isaias Rosas-Zarur. The suspension, which will last until July 2029, is accompanied by a fine of $15,000 for each player.

Two brothers from Mexico, Ivar Aramburu Contreras and Aitor Aramburu Contreras, have also been sanctioned. Ivar has been suspended until March 2026 and fined $44,000, with $30,800 of the fine being suspended. Aitor's suspension will end in December 2025, and he has been fined $36,000, with $25,200 of the fine being suspended.