Further five players sanctioned by ITIA for links to Belgian match-fixing ring
Quintet of Frenchmen found guilty of corruption policy breaches between 2017 and 2018, with the tennis monitoring body handing out one lifetime suspension
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has handed out sanctions to five French tennis players for breaches of its Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP).
The offences in question relate to a criminal case heard in 2023 involving a Belgian match-fixing syndicate.
During the investigation, collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for the syndicate’s leader, Grigor Sargsyan.
In this latest round of sanctions doled out by the ITIA in relation to the syndicate, the strongest punishment was given to Yannick Thivant.
The 38-year-old, who ranked as high as world number 590th, was given a lifetime ban from tennis in addition to a $75,000 (£58,400) fine.
Thivant admitted to 22 instances of match-fixing between 2017 and 2018, 16 of which related to his own matches while he “facilitated another tennis player to not use his best efforts” on six other occasions.
As part of a French criminal investigation, Thivant requested his own hearing before an Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO).
AHO Richard McLaren, who imposed Thivant’s sanction, noted in his decision that “the facts in this matter require that the most serious sanctions be imposed”.
In addition to Thivant, Thomas Brechemier, 28, was given a seven and a half year suspension in addition to a $40,000 fine, $27,500 of which is suspended.
Brechemier, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 399th, admitted to fixing 11 matches between 2017 and 2018.
In addition to committing the same offences as Thivant, Brechemier was also charged with “soliciting or facilitating another person to wager on the outcome” of a match, receiving money from a fixed match and failing to report an approach made to him by an organised criminal network.
His ban has been backdated to 12 February 2025 and will expire on 11 August 2032.
Gabriel Petit, 29, was given a six-year and six-month suspension alongside a $35,000 fine after neglecting to respond to the ITIA’s initial charges.
By failing to cooperate with the ITIA and ignoring a formal serving of documents sent to his address, Petit waived his right to a hearing and accepted liability for seven match-fixing offences between 2017 and 2018.
His suspension is valid from 21 March 2025 and will run until 20 September 2031.
Thomas Setodji, 29, was issued a 10-year suspension on top of a $20,000 fine.
The former world number 794 was found guilty of fixing three matches, in addition to failing to report a corrupt approach in 2018. His suspension came into effect on 1 April 2025 and will run until 31 March 2035.
Hugo Daubias, 28, was handed a two-year suspension from the ITIA and a $15,000 fine after admitting to fixing two matches in 2017.
The sanction began on 21 March 2025 and will run until 20 March 2027.
During their suspensions, all five players will be prohibited from playing in, coaching at or attending any tennis event organised by ITIA members.
These include the ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon, USTA or any national association.
Back in February, the ITIA sanctioned six current and former tennis players for their involvement in fixing matches related to the same Belgian crime syndicate from the 2023 investigation.