The International Agency for Tennis Integrity (Itiafor its acronym in English) confirmed this Tuesday that the Dominican tennis player Maikel Villalona, 21 years old, has been sanctioned for four years and six months for several violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (Tacp).
Villalonawho does not appear in the world ranking, was accused on October 15 of committing five violations of the anti-corruption code, including manipulation of the result, receipt of money and failure to report a corrupt strategy, in relation to a doubles match of the ITF World Tennis Tour disputed in 2022, the ITIA reports in a statement.
Fixing in tennis. Photo:EL TIEMPO Archive
He was also charged with failing to cooperate with an investigation by the Angry by ignoring five separate requests to be interviewed in early 2025.
By not responding to the accusations of the body in charge of prosecuting inappropriate behavior related to party corruption, Villalona “He admitted his responsibility on all charges and accepted the sanction,” consisting of a suspension of four years and six months and a fine of 10,000 dollars (about 8,500 euros).
Villalona decided not to appeal the punishment, which came into effect on October 30 and prohibits him from playing, training or attending any tennis event organized by the members of the Itia.
The professional men’s and women’s circuits, the ATP and the WTA, respectively, are part of this independent body. International Tennis Federation and representatives of the grand slams, among others.
Rain of sanctions
This is the third suspension applied by Itia in the last month. Last Sunday, he announced the 12-year ban on the Chinese tennis player Pang Renlong for fixing – or trying to – more than twenty matches between May and September of last year.
Pang25, was also sentenced to pay $110,000 in fines, although $70,000 of them were suspended.
Pang Renlong Photo:Screenshot
Last week, the tennis anti-corruption agency announced another even harsher sanction, of 20 years, against the Frenchman. Quentin Folliotthe sixth player convicted in a large-scale investigation into an organization dedicated to match-fixing.
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