Tennis Anti-Corruption Crackdown! Two Professional Players Heavily Penalized: Total Suspension of 6 Years and Fines of $24,000

On January 20, the International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the implementation of multiple provisional suspensions under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), demonstrating a firm stance against misconduct in tennis. Just weeks ago, ITIA announced provisional bans on five individuals, and now it has revealed new sanctions—two players have been handed long-term suspensions and hefty fines for serious corruption violations.

Brazilian player Gustavo Tedesco and Russian player Gyulnara Nazarova have been collectively suspended for over six years. The ITIA officially confirmed this disciplinary action on Wednesday, following investigations into their violations during previous seasons.

At just 21 years old, Tedesco admitted to committing six breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program in 2022. The former ITF-ranked No. 423 Brazilian was found to have deliberately manipulated the outcomes of three World Tennis Tour matches within three months and was also involved in betting activities related to those matches.

As a result, Tedesco received a suspension of two years and three months and was fined £10,955 (approximately $14,926), with £7,668 (about $10,447) suspended. He waived his right to appeal, meaning his ban will last until 2028.

Meanwhile, Nazarova faced a harsher penalty. The 27-year-old Russian player, who has not competed since 2020, was found to have initiated corrupt approaches to another player in 2019. She was suspended for four years and fined £7,307 (approximately $9,956), with no suspension on the fine. Since she did not respond to the allegations issued in December last year, her suspension took effect from January this year and will continue until 2030.

In December last year, ITIA launched one of its toughest crackdown operations to date, targeting not only top-tier tournaments but also reaching down to more vulnerable lower-level events. The message was clear: tennis authorities are determined to eradicate corruption wherever it exists, tightening the regulatory net ever more firmly.

For most young players, the early twenties should be a period of quiet development—hours of training, competing in smaller tournaments, and hoping for a breakthrough moment that changes everything. However, for Dominican player Maikel Villalona, this journey abruptly ended in December 2025, serving as a stark warning.

On December 23 last year, the International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed that the 21-year-old Dominican player was sanctioned for violating the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. Villalona was banned for four years and six months and fined $10,000.

The case dates back to October 15, when Villalona was formally charged with five separate TACP violations. Four of these charges related to a 2022 ITF World Tennis Tour doubles match flagged by investigators due to significant integrity concerns, including two offenses involving match-fixing.

Villalona was also accused of accepting money linked to corrupt activities, and the situation worsened as ITIA alleged he failed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

According to the agency, the unranked player ignored five official interview requests early in 2025. Under the TACP framework, failure to respond to charges is considered an admission of guilt. Due to his non-participation in the investigation process, Villalona effectively accepted all five violations. His suspension took effect on October 30, 2025, and he did not file an appeal within the required ten business days.

Villalona’s case is not isolated. December 2025 became a “dark month” for tennis integrity, with several major sanctions highlighting the widespread issue of match-fixing. On December 11 last year, ITIA confirmed that 26-year-old French player Quentin Folliot received a 20-year suspension. Investigators described him as a “central figure” in a match-fixing network, making his penalty one of the harshest in recent tennis history; he was also fined heavily, effectively ending his professional career.

Just days later, Chinese player Pang Renlong was banned for 12 years and fined $110,000. ITIA found that Pang manipulated as many as 22 matches within five months, a staggering number that exposes the corruption lurking beneath tennis’s surface.

Corruption is not merely an individual moral failing but a corrosion of tennis’s foundation. ITIA’s ongoing strict enforcement sends a clear message, but the real challenge lies in creating a safer, more transparent environment for young players beyond just heavy regulation.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)