Match-fixing probe leads to suspension of 7 Belgian players

LONDON — The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Friday that seven Belgian tennis players have been suspended from the sport due to their involvement in a match-fixing investigation.

According to the ITIA, the players confessed to corruption breaches and the punishments are associated with a recent criminal case involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium.

The ITIA revealed that the collaboration between the agency and Belgian authorities resulted in a five-year custodial sentence for the leader of the syndicate, Grigor Sargsyan.

Among the suspended players are Arnaud Graisse, Arthur de Greef, Julien Dubail, Romain Barbosa, Maxime Authom, Omar Salman, and Alec Witmeur.

The ITIA stated that the players were “convicted by the criminal court and have subsequently agreed sanctions with the ITIA.”

The lengths of the suspensions vary from two years and seven months to four years and ten months.

De Greef, 31, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 113 in 2017, admitted to nine breaches and has been suspended for three years and nine months. He was also fined $45,000, with $31,500 suspended.

“These sanctions conclude ITIA proceedings against Belgian players in relation to the Sargsyan match-fixing ring, though syndicate cases relating to players from outside Belgium remain ongoing,” the ITIA concluded.