Mardy Fish and Bob Bryan, coaches of the US Davis Cup team, were fined $10,000 each for promoting a betting operator through social media.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the punishments on Tuesday, saying Fish and Bryan fully cooperated with its investigation and immediately removed posts deemed problematic.
Both were also suspended for four months, but those punishments would only apply if there is another violation during a four-month period beginning November 11.
“Bob and I did a DraftKings promotion during the US Open, unaware that we couldn’t do it,” Fish wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday. “As soon as we found out, I deleted the posts and cooperated with ITIA.”
Since 2019, Fish has been captain of the US Davis Cup team. Bryan has coached and served as alternate captain this year after Fish contracted COVID-19.
Both were “subject to the rules on dealings with betting operators,” the ITIA reported.
The United States reached the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup this season, falling in that instance with Italy last week in Malaga, Spain. The Americans have accumulated 32 titles in the international team tournament, but they have not been crowned since 2007.
The tennis anti-corruption program notes that anyone who falls under its jurisdiction, something that occurs in the case of Fish and Bryant since they were accredited by the US team in 2022, cannot “directly or indirectly facilitate, encourage or promote” betting on this sport.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said it was aware of the fines and expressed its support for Fish and Bryan
“As ITIA noted, neither was aware that their actions were in any way in violation of the protocols and, when brought to their attention, they immediately and fully cooperated throughout the remainder of the process,” a USTA spokesperson said in a statement. .
“Mardy and Bob have dedicated a good part of their lives to representing and supporting American tennis, and we are grateful for their ongoing commitment to growing the sport in the country.”
