Italian tennis player suspended nine months for betting

Alessio di Mauro has been suspended for nine months and fined $60,000 for betting on tennis matches.

Italian tennis player suspended nine months for betting Alessio di Mauro has become the first player to be penalized under the anti-corruption program of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), after being handed a 9-month long suspension and fined $60,000 for betting on tennis matches. According to a statement by the ATP, the association wanted a longer suspension, but there was no evidence that Alessio di Mauro, currently ranked No. 124 in the world, has placed bets on his own tennis matches or have attempted to affect the outcome of games he bet on. Corrado Tchaburnich, manager of the Italian tennis player, called the punishment "harsh" and said that di Mauro will appeal the ATP decision. "They say he never committed sporting fraud, so the only thing he did was bet, which is prohibited and should definitely be punished. But there have been players banned only six months for doping, so nine months for di Mauro seems disproportionate," Italian tennis federation spokesman Giancarlo Baccini also questioned the long ban.

The ATP probe found out that Alessio di Mauro placed 120 bets over 338 matches in the period from November 2006 to June 2007. His coach, Fabio Rizzo, said that the betting was done online and in small amounts, usually $10 to $20 wagered per bet.

The issue with betting and match-fixing in the world of tennis was brought forth by the British online sports betting site, Betfair, when suspicious patterns emerged during a Davydenko match at Sopot, Poland, in August.

Published on 11/11/2007