Serbian tennis player hit with 24-year ban for match-fixing

LONDON: A Serbian tennis player has been banned from the sport for 24 years for overseeing a "corrupt network" of match-fixing, it was announced Thursday.

Stefan Milicevic, 29, fixed six matches — including five in which he played — and attempted to fix a further six between 2022 and 2024, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said.

"Milicevic was also charged with recruiting or attempting to recruit multiple professional players as part of a corrupt network during the same period, resulting in a number of other players fixing matches," the ITIA said in a statement

Milicevic, whose highest ATP ranking was a lowly 1,338, did not engage or co-operate with the investigation, according to the ITIA, and was also fined $70,000 (62,400 euros).

The ITIA added: "While suspended, Milicevic is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association."

His suspension will officially end on October 8, 2050. — AFP