Ismailov and Sultanbekov have been handed severe bans and fines by the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency). Ismailov, who was already serving a seven-year ban, now faces a lifetime ban from the sport and an additional fine of $14,000. Sultanbekov has been banned for five years and fined $8,000.
These penalties mean that both players are forbidden from participating in or attending any tennis events authorized or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis.
The ITIA did not provide further details about the specific tournament where the offenses occurred. However, it stated that both players were found guilty of three violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) rules.
The breaches include:
- D.1.k: No covered person shall conspire or solicit to manipulate the outcome or any aspect of an event.
- D.1.d: No player shall contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any aspect of an event.
- D.2.a.i: If a player is approached by a party to influence the outcome of an event, they must promptly report it to the Tennis Integrity Unit.
In addition, Ismailov was also found guilty of D.1.e, which prohibits players from soliciting or conspiring to discourage another player from giving their best effort in an event.
Ismailov achieved a highest ATP ranking of 397, while Sultanbekov’s highest ATP ranking was 1886.
