Professional tennis has been rocked by a severe disciplinary ruling after Serbian player Stefan Milicevic received a lengthy 24-year ban from the sport for masterminding an extensive match-fixing operation. The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the sanction on Thursday following a comprehensive probe into corrupt activities conducted between the years 2022 and 2024. The 29-year-old athlete, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 1,338 on the ATP tour, was found guilty of orchestrating multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.
Details Of The Disciplinary Action
According to findings released by governing authorities, Milicevic successfully fixed six professional encounters, which included five matches in which he personally competed. Furthermore, investigators established that he attempted to manipulate an additional six matches during the same two-year window. The International Tennis Integrity Agency highlighted that the severity of the penalty reflects not only his direct involvement in fixing scores but also his active role in recruiting other professional players into the illicit network, thereby expanding the scope of corruption across the lower tiers of professional tennis.
- Stefan Milicevic hit with a 24-year ban ending on October 8, 2050.
- Player fined $70,000 following an investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
- Found guilty of fixing six matches and attempting to fix six others between 2022 and 2024.
- Completely failed to cooperate or engage with investigators during the disciplinary process.
Wider Repercussions And Restrictions
As part of the strict sanctions imposed by the independent anti-corruption hearing officer, Milicevic is comprehensively prohibited from participating in, coaching at, or even attending any tennis tournament or event organized, sanctioned, or recognized by governing bodies including the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation, Grand Slam boards, or any affiliated national association worldwide. In addition to the lengthy exclusion from the sport, the Serbian player has been ordered to pay a financial penalty totaling $70,000, equivalent to roughly 62,400 euros. Officials noted that his refusal to cooperate with investigators further compounded the severity of the punishment handed down.
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