ITIA slaps French tennis player with 10-year ban for match-fixing
Lenny Mitjana found guilty of 11 tennis anti-corruption program breaches including match-fixing and the facilitation of wagers
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has handed French player Leny Mitjana a 10-year ban and $20,000 (£15,703) fine for 11 breaches of the tennis anti-corruption programme (TACP).
Mitjana has denied all charges linking him to a recently concluded criminal case involving a Belgian match-fixing syndicate.
A collaboration between the ITIA and the Belgian authorities had previously led to a five-year custodial sentence for the syndicate’s leader, Grigor Sargsyan.
The alleged offences took place in 2017 and 2018, around the time the 28-year-old achieved his highest career-ranking of 458th.
A hearing was held before independent anti-corruption hearing officer Phillipe Cavalieros on 8 November 2023 to determine the player’s fate.
Cavalieros subsequently ruled that Mitjana was liable for breaching four sections of the TCAP.
These breaches included the “facilitation of wagering, contriving the outcome of matches, influencing other players not to use their best efforts in matches and failing to report corrupt approaches”.
The French singles player’s ban began December 2023 and will conclude on 21 December 2033.
Per the suspension rules, Mitjana, is unable to play, coach or attend any tennis event run by the ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon and USTA.