The International Tennis Integrity Agency Imposes Sanctions on Three Players
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that three tennis players, Timur Khabibulin, Sanjar Fayziev, and Igor Smilansky, have been sanctioned and fined for violating the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
The Decision and Sanctions
Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Janie Soublière upheld the charges against the players for their involvement in match-fixing activities. The following sanctions have been imposed:
– Timur Khabibulin from Kazakhstan has been banned for life and fined $60,000.
– Sanjar Fayziev from Uzbekistan has been banned for three years and six months (with six months suspended) and fined $15,000.
– Igor Smilansky from Israel has been banned for two years with a $4,000 fine (with $1,000 suspended).
Details of the Charges
Khabibulin faced 21 individual charges for match-fixing between 2014 and 2019. Fayziev faced five charges for two matches in 2018. Smilansky faced three charges for one match in 2018.
Effective Dates of Suspension
The sanctions will be enforced from the date of the players’ provisional suspensions on July 25, 2023. Fayziev’s suspension will last until July 24, 2026, and Smilansky’s suspension will last until July 24, 2025 (subject to payment of the fines or agreement on repayment schemes).
Restrictions on Participation
During their periods of suspension, Fayziev and Smilansky are prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA, which include ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open, and national associations.
International Tennis Integrity Agency, tennis players, sanctions, fines, match-fixing, Timur Khabibulin, Sanjar Fayziev, Igor Smilansky, Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, bans, suspensions