ITIA Press Release, March 11, 2021

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has today confirmed that two Nigerian tennis players, Abiodun Oyegoke and Bukola Popoola have been banned for life from the sport, following an investigation into match fixing at a tournament in 2019.

The case was ruled on by Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Charles Hollander QC and the sanctions mean that both are permanently prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis.

Ms Oyegoke, who had a highest ITF singles ranking of 986 and Ms Popoola who was unranked as a player and at the tournament as a purported coach, were both found guilty of two breaches of the 2019 Tennis Anti-Corruption Program rules:

D.1.e. “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, facilitate, or conspire to solicit or facilitate any Player to not use his or her best efforts in any Event.”

D.1.k. “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, facilitate, or conspire to solicit or facilitate any other person to contrive, attempt to contrive or conspire to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.”

In addition, Ms Popoola was found guilty of:

D.1.c: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, accept, or conspire to solicit or accept any money, benefit or Consideration for the provision of an accreditation to an Event (i) for the purpose of facilitating a commission of a Corruption Offense; or (ii) which leads, directly or indirectly, to the commission of a Corruption Offense.”

The International Tennis Integrity Agency is an independent body established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.