Seven tennis players, namely Arnaud Graisse, Arthur de Greef, Julien Dubail, Romain Barbosa, Maxime Authom, Omar Salman, and Alec Witmeur, have been found in breach of the ITIA Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme. They have been involved in tennis match-fixing and will serve bans of varying lengths.
All seven players were convicted by a criminal court in Belgium and agreed to sanctions with the ITIA. The case revolves around a Belgian match-fixing syndicate headed by Grigor Sargsyan, who was described by the Washington Post as “the man who built the biggest match-fixing ring in tennis”. Sargsyan has been given a five-year custodial sentence.
Of the seven players, Witmeur, de Greef, and Barbosa have been provisionally suspended since May 2021 due to formal charges in the criminal process. Witmeur admitted to six breaches, while de Greef and Barbosa admitted to nine breaches each. They have all received lengthy bans, taking into account the time already served under the provisional suspension.
De Greef, with a career-high ATP tennis singles ranking of 113 in 2017, has been suspended for three years and nine months, which will conclude on 26 February 2025. He will also pay a fine of $45,000.
Barbosa, whose highest ATP singles ranking was 403 in 2016, will be banned for five years and nine months, also until 26 February 2025. He has been fined $45,000, with $31,500 of the fine suspended.
Witmeur, who achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of 1,056 in 2011, will serve a suspension of two years and seven months until 26 December 2023. He will pay a fine of $30,000, with $21,000 suspended.
The other four players, Graisse, Dubail, Salman, and Authom, were also found guilty of multiple breaches of the TACP. Graisse, who is unranked, will face the longest ban of four years and 10 months until 1 October 2028. He has been fined $60,000, with $42,000 of it suspended.
Dubail, with a career-high ATP singles ranking of 371 in 2012, is banned for three years and nine months until 3 July 2027. He has been fined $45,000, with $31,500 of the fine suspended.
Authom, with a highest ATP singles ranking of 143 in 2013, will be banned for three years and nine months until 27 July 2027. He has been fined $30,000, with $21,000 of the fine suspended.
Salman, whose ATP singles ranking peaked at 464 in 2018, is suspended for two years and seven months until 8 May 2026. He has been fined $30,000, with $21,000 of the fine suspended.
During their suspensions, these players are not allowed to participate in, coach at, or attend any professional tennis events authorized or sanctioned by the ITIA or any national association. The ITIA mentioned that proceedings against players involved in syndicate cases outside Belgium are still ongoing.
