The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has taken decisive action against two tennis players involved in corruption linked to a syndicate in Belgium. Alejandro Mendoza Crespo has been handed a lifetime ban for 20 offenses, while Jorge Panta Herreros has been suspended for three years for four infringements.
The sanctions were imposed by independent anti-corruption hearing officer Professor Richard McLaren following a formal hearing in early March. The bans will come into effect from 4 April, with Mendoza facing a $250,000 fine and Panta a $10,000 penalty. Both players are prohibited from playing, coaching, or attending any ITIA-sanctioned events, including those organized by the ATP and WTA.
The ITIA revealed that the suspensions of Mendoza and Panta are connected to a recent criminal case in Belgium, where syndicate leader Grigor Sargsyan received a five-year prison sentence. This case has already led to the banning of seven players in November for breaching the ITIA’s Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme.
In addition to Mendoza and Panta, French player Leny Mitjana was suspended for 10 years, and Anis Ghorbel received a three-year ban earlier this year in relation to the Belgium case. With these latest bans, a total of 24 players and officials have now been sanctioned in connection to the syndicate.
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) also highlighted concerns about tennis integrity in its Q1 Integrity Report. The report revealed a 12% increase in alerts compared to the same period last year, with 14 alerts specifically related to tennis. The ITIA and other governing bodies continue to crack down on corruption in the sport to maintain its integrity and fairness.