LONDON, August 6, 2024 (ITIA Press Release)
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that two Argentinian tennis players have been sanctioned for offenses under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
Melina Ferrero and Sofia Luini, both aged 31, have been suspended for three and seven years respectively. Both cases were ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Diana Tesic.
The sanctions are linked to a recently concluded criminal case involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. Collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for the leader of the syndicate, Grigor Sargsyan.
Ferrero, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 731 in May 2015, did not respond to the ITIA’s 12 charges relating to three matches in 2017 and 2018, which included facilitating betting, contriving aspects of tennis matches, accepting money for using less than their best efforts, and failure to report corrupt approaches.
In failing to respond to the ITIA charges, Ferrero effectively admitted liability for all charges and acceded to sanctions. Alongside a three-year suspension, AHO Tesic also issued Ferrero with a fine of $15,000.
Luini, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 492 in September 2014, contested the ITIA’s 24 charges, relating to six matches in 2017 and 2018. Charges included facilitating betting, contriving aspects of tennis matches, accepting money for using less than their best efforts, and failure to report corrupt approaches.
A hearing was held via video conference on 15 May 2024, from which AHO Tesic upheld 22 ITIA charges, and issued Luini with a fine of $30,000 alongside a seven-year suspension.
Both players are suspended from 23 July 2024, the date their decisions were issued. Ferrero’s suspension will end on 22 July 2027, and Luini’s on 22 July 2031.
During the period of ineligibility, Ferrero and Luini are prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.
