South African tennis player Joshua Chetty has been banned from the sport for life after being found guilty of match-fixing charges.
The 21-year old admitted to approaching another player with financial inducements of $2,000 to underperform in a singles match, and $600 in a doubles match, during the ITF Futures F1 event in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in November 2015.
The player approached by Chetty, whose identity will remain confidential in accordance with the provisions of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), rejected the corrupt offers and reported the matter to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU).
The findings of a resultant TIU investigation were referred to independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer, Ian Mill QC, who considered the case and imposed the lifetime ban from all professional tennis.
Mr Chetty is currently ranked 1,857 in singles, with a career-high of 1,370 in June 2015.
The breaches of the TACP for which he has been found guilty fall under Sections D.1.e and D.1.g, namely:
D.1.e. No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or facilitate any Player to not use his or her best efforts in any Event.
D.1.g. No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, offer or provide any money, benefit or Consideration to any other Covered Person with the intention of negatively influencing a Player’s best efforts in any Event.
The lifetime ban from all professional tennis applies with immediate effect and means the player is not allowed to compete in, or attend, any tournament or event organised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of the sport.
President of Tennis South Africa (TSA) Gavin Crookes said TSA supports this decision unreservedly. “The maintenance of the integrity of our sport is paramount – David Haggerty, the President of the International Tennis Federation has made this one of his core objectives over the next three years – this likewise is one of my core objectives for the coming three years as President of Tennis South Africa. All stakeholders need to know that the running of our sport is above reproach and that any transgression by any player, official or administrator will be dealt with harshly.”
Crookes said that he had advised EThekwini Tennis that Joshua Chetty would not be allowed to participate in League fixtures as well.
The Tennis Integrity Unit is an initiative of the Grand Slam Board, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP and the WTA, who are jointly committed to a zero tolerance approach to corruption in tennis.
