LONDON, July 29, 2026 (ITIA Media Release)
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended Russian tennis player Anastasia Sukhotina for breaching tennis’ anti-corruption rules.
26-year-old Sukhotina, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 607 in August 2019, has been suspended for four years and 10 months, and fined $30,000, of which $22,500 is suspended.
Having initially denied the charges, Sukhotina accepted an agreed sanction directly with the ITIA, admitting to eight breaches of tennis’ anti-corruption rules between 2019 and 2024, with the breaches gradually increasing in severity from attempting to bet on tennis to corrupting other players and destroying evidence.
Sukhotina’s suspension began on 17 July 2026, and will end on 16 May 2031.
Separately, the ITIA has also provisionally suspended Azerbaijan Davis Cup captain Yalchin Manafli for refusing the request to examine his phone as part of an investigation. The provisional suspension began on 11 June 2026.
Manafli, who has also held roles as a Tournament Director for World Tennis Tour events in Azerbaijan, exercised their right to appeal the provisional suspension before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO). AHO Philippe Cavalieros dismissed Manafli’s appeal, stating that “substantial evidence supports the provisional suspension”.
While suspended and provisionally suspended, the individuals are not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association.
