ITIA Press Release, September 1, 2021

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has today confirmed that Algerian tennis player Hichem Yasri has been banned from the sport for three months and fined $5000 (suspended on condition of no further breaches) for placing bets on tennis matches in breach of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) rules.  None of the player’s bets were on matches he was participating in or had inside information on.

The case was dealt with under the expedited process in the TACP  which allows for a sanction to be imposed by the ITIA in cases warranting no more than a six month suspension and/or a fine up to $10,000.  There is a right of appeal against the ITIA’s decision to an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer.  In this case, the player has elected not to appeal.

Yasri, who has a highest ATP ranking of 1864 is now prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or otherwise attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis for three months from 28 July 2021 until 27 October 2021.

The breach of the TACP rules that the player has been found guilty of is:

D.1.a. No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, wager on the outcome or any other aspect of any Event or any other tennis competition.