TIU Press Release, August 18, 2018

German tennis player Luca Gelhardt has been suspended for eight months and fined $7,000 after being found guilty of betting on tennis matches.

Half of the suspension (four months) and half of the fine ($3,500) are suspended on provision that no further breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) are committed prior to 16 April 2019.

On that basis, Mr Gelhardt is immediately prohibited from playing in or attending any sanctioned events organised or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport. Assuming no further disciplinary violations are incurred, he will be eligible to compete again from 16 December 2018.

A Tennis Integrity Unit investigation found that the player placed a total of 280 bets on tennis matches through three online gambling accounts between December 2012 and November 2015. None of the wagers involved matches in which he played and none were linked to any other corruption offence.

Under the provisions of the TACP, all Covered Persons are explicitly prohibited from any form of betting on tennis.

The case against Mr Gelhardt was adjudicated by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Charles Hollander QC.

The 23-year old player is currently ranked 1065 in singles and reached a career-high of 848 in March 2018.

The relevant section of the TACP governing betting on tennis is as follows:

Section D.1.a: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, wager or attempt to wager on the outcome or any other aspect of any Event or any other tennis competition.”