ITIA Imposes Bans and Fines on Three Tennis Players for Match-Fixing
Date: 2023-11-03 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: EVENTS
The ITIA has announced that Timur Khabibulin, who held a career-high ATP doubles ranking of 154, has been handed a lifetime ban from professional tennis. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay a fine of $60,000, with this severe punishment stemming from 21 match-fixing charges that occurred between 2014 and 2019.
Sanjar Fayziev, whose highest ATP doubles ranking was also 154, has been banned for three years and six months, with six months of this ban being suspended. Fayziev was found guilty of five match-fixing offenses in 2018 and will also pay a $15,000 fine.
Igor Smilansky, with a career-high ATP singles ranking of 451, will serve a two-year ban and pay a $4,000 penalty, of which $1,000 is suspended. He was held accountable for three match-fixing charges in a single match in 2018.
These sanctions will take effect from the date of the players' provisional suspensions on July 25, 2023. Consequently, Fayziev's ban will extend until July 24, 2026, and Smilansky's until July 24, 2025.
Furthermore, both Fayziev and Smilansky are now prohibited from participating in, coaching at, or even attending events authorized or sanctioned by ITIA members, which encompass prestigious tournaments such as the ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and US Open.
Timur Khabibulin, however, faces the harshest penalty with a lifetime ban, meaning he will never be allowed to play at a professional tennis event again.
These recent decisions by the ITIA serve as a stern reminder of the organization's determination to eradicate match-fixing from the sport of tennis.
