Tennis chiefs step up match-fixing probe
Davydenko has protested his innocence over his surprise defeat in August
Also In The News
|
Dutch giants Ajax have revealed they have reached an agreement with  |
Tuesday, 09, Oct 2007 10:16
The four leading organising bodies in professional tennis have announced a joint "integrity unit" to help clear the sport of alleged match-fixing.
The ATP Tour, the Grand Slam Committee, the International Tennis Federation and the WTA have set up the body as increasing numbers of players admit to hearing dressing-room rumours of incentives being offered to produce a particular outcome.
An ATP spokesman revealed that it would become a punishable offence for a player not to report their suspicions to the sport's authorities.
"Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and the ATP has shown that it will act where it has information which requires investigation," he said.
"It will become a sanctionable offence for a player not to provide information that helps the police and the authorities.
"If a player is approached they need to pass on that information within 48 hours."
British number one Andy Murray has claimed that 'everyone knows' that match-rigging takes place, while the recently-retired Tim Henman confesses that other players have told him of being approached.
The betting exchange firm Betfair recently suspended activity on a low-profile match between Nikolay Davydenko and Martin Vassallo at the Poland Open because of unusual gambling patterns.
The ATP have a separate investigation underway into the incident with both players insisting they were oblivious to the money being put on the match.