ITIA Bans Tennis Official Stefan Milanov for 16 Years over Corruption Charges

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has made a resounding statement in its ongoing fight against corruption in tennis by imposing a 16-year ban on Bulgarian official Stefan Milanov. The ban, effective from December 28, 2023, until December 27, 2039, comes after Milanov was found guilty of 17 breaches of the ITIA Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP). These charges all pertain to his activities as an umpire during five tennis matches in 2021.

The ITIA specifically identified breaches of various sections of the TACP, including Section D.1.b, which prohibits facilitating any form of wagering on the outcome of an event. Additionally, five breaches were related to Section D.1.m, which concerns manipulating scoring data entry, while another five were linked to Section D.1.n, which deals with conspiring to commit corruption offenses.

Furthermore, Milanov was charged with two breaches of Section F.2.b of the 2023 TACP, pertaining to his failure to fully cooperate with ITIA investigations. Astonishingly, Milanov did not respond to these charges, effectively admitting liability and accepting the imposed sanctions.

The ban extends to all tennis events authorized or sanctioned by ITIA members, and Milanov is also required to pay a fine of $75,000 (£58,982/€68,523).

This is not the first time Milanov has faced sanctions; he was previously suspended for six months in 2022 for betting on tennis matches, including one he officiated. The ITIA, in accordance with Section D.1.a of the 2022 TACP, prohibits individuals involved in tennis from betting on matches. Milanov's six-month suspension ran from November 15, 2022, until May 14, 2023, and included a fine, with a portion of it suspended.

The ITIA's commitment to preserving the integrity of tennis is evident in its recent actions. Earlier this month, French tennis player Leny Mitjana was banned for ten years for corruption and match-fixing offenses, further underlining the organization's resolve to root out corruption within the sport.