TIU Press Release, February 19, 2019

Nigerian tennis player Adimabua Iyorovbe has been suspended and fined after admitting to betting on tennis matches, in breach of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

The 24-year old unranked player admitted to placing bets on professional tennis matches at the ITF Futures F3 Abuja Open in Nigeria on 15 May 2017. He also volunteered his involvement in other breaches of betting rules between December 2016 and May 2017.

None of the wagers involved matches he played in and there were no other breaches of tennis integrity rules.

In a ruling by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Richard H. McLaren today, 19 February 2019, Mr Iyorovbe was suspended for six months and fined $5,000. Three months of the ban and $4,500 of the fine are suspended provided the player commits no further breaches of the TACP.

This means that with effect from today, 19 February 2019, Mr Iyorovbe cannot compete in, or attend, any tournament or event organised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of the sport. Assuming no further offences, he will be eligible to resume playing tennis from 18 May 2019.

The relevant section of the 2017 TACP which relates to betting offences is: 

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.