Itf World Tennis Tour Key 2021 Rule Changes 1) Draw Sizes

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Itf World Tennis Tour Key 2021 Rule Changes 1) Draw Sizes ITF WORLD TENNIS TOUR KEY 2021 RULE CHANGES Dear National Association Staff, With the 2021 World Tennis Tour (‘WTT’) now underway, we wish to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the updated 2021 ITF World Tennis Tour Regulations, including those changes which are new this year and can be easily referenced via the Summary of 2021 Rule Changes. The updated 2021 ITF Organisational Requirements can be found here. Below find some important changes for 2021 on the ITF World Tennis Tour. In addition, please find the important updates and changes from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (‘ITIA’), formerly the Tennis Integrity Unit (‘TIU’), as well as updated information about Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) and Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). 1) DRAW SIZES In order to provide more playing opportunities, some tournaments may have larger main draws (women only) or qualifying draws (men and women). Increased draws are at the discretion of the ITF and the tournament organiser, and are dependent on a number of factors, including the number of courts at the venue, the number of other playing opportunities that week, and whether the ITF’s Covid-19 protocols can be maintained. The WTA ranking point allocation for tournaments with increased draws has been revised, see section 2 below. The total prize money at tournaments running 48 main draws will remain the same but will be distributed among the larger draw (details to be published shortly). Please check the 2021 Regulations for an updated prize money breakdown. Potential main draw or qualifying draw changes are as follows: Women’s $25,000, $60,000, $80,000, $100,000: • Tournament Organisers and the ITF will identify as promptly as possible, as a minimum in advance of the Entry Deadline, whether a main draw will remain at 32 or increase to 48. Men’s $15,000, $25,000,and Women’s $15,000, $25,000, $60,000, $80,000, $100,000: • Tournament Organisers and the ITF will similarly identify as promptly as possible, as a minimum in advance of the Entry Deadline, whether a qualifying draw will be composed of 24, 32, 48 or 64. The ITF will work with National Associations throughout the year to provide targeted funding assistance to enable tournaments to uplift prize money to a higher category where it is evident that activity is reduced or where it is apparent that players will benefit from additional opportunities to compete. 2) WTA RANKING POINT ALLOCATION ITF tournaments with larger draws as outlined above will include additional WTA ranking points. The revised point allocation will apply to ITF WTT tournaments played from 4 January 2021 (see changes in red in the table below). For ITF WTT tournaments played prior to 4 January 2021, the 2020 point allocation will apply. WTA Ranking Point Allocation 2021 (ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments) Category (Draw Size) W F SF QF R16 R32 R64 R128 QFR FQR Q2 Q1 ITF $100,000 + H (48S, 32Q) 150 90 55 28 14 7 1 - 6 4 - - ITF $100,000 + H 150 90 55 28 14 1 - - 6 4 - - (32S,32/24Q) ITF $100,000 + H 150 90 55 28 14 1 - - 6 4 2 - (32S,48/64Q) ITF $100,000 + H (16D) 150 90 55 28 1 - - - - - - - ITF $100,000 (48S, 32Q) 140 85 50 25 13 6 1 - 6 4 - - ITF $100,000 (32S,32/24Q) 140 85 50 25 13 1 - - 6 4 - - ITF $100,000 (32S, 48/64Q) 140 85 50 25 13 1 - - 6 4 2 - ITF $100,000 (16D) 140 85 50 25 1 - - - - - - - ITF $80,000 + H (48S, 32Q) 130 80 48 24 12 6 1 - 5 3 - - ITF $80,000 + H (32S,32/24Q) 130 80 48 24 12 1 - - 5 3 - - ITF $80,000 + H (32S, 48/64Q) 130 80 48 24 12 1 - - 5 3 1 - ITF $80,000 + H (16D) 130 80 48 24 1 - - - - - - - ITF $80,000 (48S, 32Q) 115 70 42 21 10 5 1 - 5 3 - - ITF $80,000 (32S,32/24Q) 115 70 42 21 10 1 - - 5 3 - - ITF $80,000 (32S, 48/64Q) 115 70 42 21 10 1 - - 5 3 1 - ITF $80,000 (16D) 115 70 42 21 1 - - - - - - - ITF $60,000 + H (48S, 32Q) 100 60 36 18 9 5 1 - 5 3 - - ITF $60,000 + H (32S,32/24Q) 100 60 36 18 9 1 - - 5 3 - - ITF $60,000 + H (32S, 48/64Q) 100 60 36 18 9 1 - - 5 3 1 - ITF $60,000 + H (16D) 100 60 36 18 1 - - - - - - - ITF $60,000 (48S, 32Q) 80 48 29 15 8 5 1 - 5 3 - - ITF $60,000 (32S,32/24Q) 80 48 29 15 8 1 - - 5 3 - - ITF $60,000 (32S, 48/64Q) 80 48 29 15 8 1 - - 5 3 1 - ITF $60,000 (16D) 80 48 29 15 1 - - - - - - - ITF $25,000 + H (48S, 32Q) 60 36 22 11 6 3 1 - 2 - - - ITF $25,000 + H (32S,32/24Q) 60 36 22 11 6 1 - - 2 - - - ITF $25,000 + H (32S, 48/64Q) 60 36 22 11 6 1 - - 2 1 - - ITF $25,000 + H (16D) 60 36 22 11 1 - - - - - - - ITF $25,000 (48S, 32Q) 50 30 18 9 5 3 1 - 2 - - - ITF $25,000 (32S,32/24Q) 50 30 18 9 5 - - - 1 - - - ITF $25,000 (32S, 48/64Q) 50 30 18 9 5 - - - 2 1 - - ITF $25,000 (16D) 50 30 18 9 1 - - - - - - - ITF $15,000 (32S,32/24Q) 10 6 4 2 1 - - - 1 - - - ITF $15,000 (32S, 48/64Q) 10 6 4 3 2 - - - 1 - - - ITF $15,000 (16D) 10 6 4 1 - - - - - - - - QFR= Qualifier, FQR-Qualifying Finalist, Q2-Second Round of Qualifying, Q1-First Round of Qualifying +H indicates that Hospitality is provided. 3) WTA “BETTER OF” RANKING SYSTEM EXTENSION The “Better Of” Ranking system has been extended and will be in place through the week of March 15, 2021, where March 22, 2021 is the last ranking run where no tournament points will drop. April 5, 2021 will be the first rankings run where tournament points will start to drop. Details regarding points dropping will be available in the upcoming weeks as further evaluation and analysis is conducted. 4) WTA SPECIAL RANKING ELIGIBILITY For players wishing to apply for a WTA Special Ranking, the WTA has extended eligibility to players ranked in the Top 750 in Singles and Doubles (previously the thresholds were a WTA ranking of 375 and 200 respectively). The qualification requirements can be found in the WTA rules. Players should contact the WTA regarding Special Ranking requests at [email protected]. 5) ATP “BETTER OF” RANKING SYSTEM EXTENSION The FedEx ATP Rankings were adjusted by the ATP in early summer from the traditional 12-month ranking to a Best of 22-month ranking with the goal of preserving the principles of merit, fairness and mobility despite the disruption caused by COVID-19. (The FedEx ATP Rankings were frozen from 16 March, just days after the Tour was suspended, until 24 August.) In October, due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, ATP announced that it would move to a Best of 24-month ranking, extending the current ranking approach through and including the week of 1 March 2021. All events continue to be non-mandatory through this period. In January, based on a revised calendar, the ATP Board approved a two-week extension of the ‘best of’ ranking system through the week of 15 March, 2021. ITF events that occurred during the tournament weeks of February 25, 2019 through March 9, 2020 will be included in the ATP Rankings for 104-weeks. ITF events played in this period will begin and continue to drop on March 15, 2021 and onward. All ITF events that occurred post ATP Suspension will be included in the rankings for the normal, 52-week period. FedEx ATP Rankings: "Best Of" Ranking Logic Extension Update Due to the delayed start to the 2021 ATP Tour season, the ATP has extended the "Best Of" ranking logic in the FedEx ATP Rankings through and including the tournament week of 15 March 2021 (Acapulco & Dubai). The dates and events that fall under the "Best Of" logic extension period are summarised below: • The ATP will continue to add points to players' breakdowns in the "Best Of" logic through and including the tournament week of 15 March (Acapulco & Dubai). • Assuming a traditional calendar is resumed as planned, starting with the week of 22 March (Miami) all events added to the rankings will be added on a rolling 52-week basis, as they were prior to the COVID- 19 pandemic. • Doha, Santiago, Marseille, Acapulco, and Dubai will now be treated as events with a "Best Of" ranking logic. BEST OF RANKING LOGIC: • A player cannot count the same Tour-level tournament twice in his ‘Best 19’ breakdown. For example, a player who played Dubai in 2020 and plays Dubai again in 2021, will count the better of those two results. IMPORTANT REMINDERS: • The "Best Of" logic extension does not alter the date of when points will begin to drop from players' breakdowns. The first ranking drop date will remain on 15 March. • 2019 Indian Wells points will drop from the rankings on 15 March, 104 weeks from when the event was added to the rankings. How will ATP Challenger Tour /ITF World Tennis Tour events played after the Tour resumption count toward a player’s ranking? Any points obtained at ATP Challenger Tour/ITF World Tennis Tour events upon Tour resumption will be considered among a player's ‘Best of Other Countable’ results.
Recommended publications
  • Draft – Letter to Tennis Players December, 2008
    MEDIA RELEASE London, 4 May 2020 Youssef Hossam banned for life for multiple match-fixing and corruption offences 21-year old Egyptian ranked 820 ATP singles committed 21 breaches of anti-corruption rules Egyptian tennis player Youssef Hossam has been banned from professional tennis for life following his conviction on multiple match-fixing and associated corruption charges. Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Jane Mulcahy QC imposed the lifetime sanction following a disciplinary Hearing held in London from 9th to 11th March 2020. A Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) investigation established that over a four-year period between 2015 and 2019, Mr Hossam conspired with other parties to carry out an extensive campaign of betting-related corruption at the lower levels of professional tennis. This involved 21 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, namely: eight cases of match-fixing six cases of facilitating gambling two cases of soliciting other players not to use best efforts three failures to report corrupt approaches two failures to co-operate with a TIU investigation. As a result of his conviction, Mr Hossam is now permanently excluded from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis event organised or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport. He has been provisionally suspended from all professional tennis since May 2019, as a result of concerns about his alleged involvement in corruption. The 21-year old is currently ranked 820 in ATP singles and reached a career-high of 291 in December 2017. The breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program he has committed relate to: Section D.1.b: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or facilitate any other person to wager on the outcome or any other aspect of any Event or any other tennis competition.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrity in Sport Weekly Media Recap
    INTEGRITY IN SPORT Bi-weekly Bulletin 9-28 July 2020 Photos International Olympic Committee INTERPOL is not responsible for the content of these articles. The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not represent the views of INTERPOL or its employees. INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin 9-28 July 2020 INVESTIGATIONS Bulgaria Application by Aleksandrina Naydenova against provisional suspension from tennis denied by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Prof Richard McLaren has denied an application by Bulgarian tennis player Aleksandrina Naydenova to lift a provisional suspension originally imposed on her on 27 December 2019. Due to restrictions in place at the time of the provisional suspension, the original decision by Prof McLaren was not publicly reported. As a result of today’s decision the 28-year old will continue to be prohibited from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis event organised or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport. The provisional suspension relates to an investigation by the Tennis Integrity Unit into alleged breaches of the Tennis Anti- Corruption Program (TACP). The Section of the TACP relating to the granting of provisional suspensions is as follows: 3. Provisional Suspension. a. The PTIOs may at any time make an application to an AHO for a Provisional Suspension of a Covered Person, including (i) before a Notice has been issued, (ii) before a Hearing or (iii) at any time after a Hearing but prior to the AHO’s issuance of a written Decision. Except as provided in Section G.4.a (in which case a Provisional Suspension is mandatory), a Provisional Suspension may be imposed if the AHO is satisfied on the preponderance of the evidence that at least one of the conditions set out at (i) and (ii) below are met: i.
    [Show full text]
  • Tennis Rejects Suggestion Evidence of Match Fixing Suppressed
    Statement from tennis governing bodies FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18 January, 2016 AEST Tennis rejects suggestion evidence of match fixing suppressed The Tennis Integrity Unit and the tennis authorities absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence of match fixing has been suppressed for any reason. In its investigations the Tennis Integrity Unit has to find evidence as opposed to information, suspicion or hearsay. A year‐long investigation into Sopot match in 2007 found insufficient evidence. As the BuzzFeed report states: ‘the investigators had hit a brick wall. It just wasn’t possible to determine who the guilty party was in relation to this match”. All professional players, support staff and officials are subject to the Tennis Anti‐ Corruption Program Tennis Integrity Unit‐instigated anti‐corruption investigations have resulted in 18 successful disciplinary cases include five players and one official who have been banned from the sport for life. In response to match fixing allegations aired on BBC News and BuzzFeed online, the four governing bodies of tennis (ATP, WTA, Grand Slam Board, ITF) who are partners in the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), said today that there is a zero‐tolerance approach to all aspects of corruption and that they are and will continue to be firmly committed to protecting the integrity of the sport. Speaking on behalf of the partners, Chris Kermode, Executive Chairman of the ATP and Tennis Integrity Board member, said: “Tennis remains fully committed to meeting the challenge that all sports face from corrupt betting practices. We have stringent procedures and sanctions in place to deal with any suspected corruption and have shown we will act decisively when our integrity rules are broken.
    [Show full text]
  • Corruption: Its Impact on Fair Play Richard H
    Marquette Sports Law Review Volume 19 Article 3 Issue 1 Fall Corruption: Its Impact on Fair Play Richard H. McLaren Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/sportslaw Part of the Entertainment and Sports Law Commons Repository Citation Richard H. McLaren, Corruption: Its Impact on Fair Play, 19 Marq. Sports L. Rev. 15 (2008) Available at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/sportslaw/vol19/iss1/3 This Symposium is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Marquette Law Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CORRUPTION: ITS IMPACT ON FAIR PLAY RICHARD H. MCLAREN* I. INTRODUCTION A difference between sport and entertainment is the unpredictability of sporting outcomes versus the planned and executed event that provides entertainment. Corruption attempts to alter this equation and make sport more of an entertainment event with a greater certainty of outcome. This equation is altered when corruption is centered on match fixing or gambling; biased refereeing; and, to a similar but different degree, when sporting results are affected by the use of performance enhancing drugs. Corruption, in any of the foregoing forms, robs sport of its essential feature of uncertainty of the outcome and accelerates its spin into the forum of entertainment, and thus it no longer is sport. Corruption gnaws away at the fundamental foundations of sport and therefore of sporting integrity. It becomes essential to protect that integrity to ensure that sport is free from any corrupt influence that might cast doubt over the authenticity and unpredictability of the sporting result.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 International Tennis Integrity Agency Privacy Policy
    INTERNATIONAL TENNIS INTEGRITY AGENCY PRIVACY POLICY WHO ARE THE ITIA AND WHAT DO WE DO? The International Tennis Integrity Agency Ltd ("ITIA", "we", "us", “our”) is the dedicated anti- corruption unit for professional tennis and is charged with enforcing the sport's zero tolerance policy towards gambling related corruption world-wide. The ITIA is a private limited company based in Roehampton, London and is operationally independent from the sport of tennis. The ITIA’s members are: ATP Tour, Inc. ("ATP"); the International Tennis Federation ("ITF"); the Women's Tennis Association ("WTA"); and the Grand Slam Board (being Australian Open, Roland-Garros, US Open and, in the case of Wimbledon, a joint Committee of Management consisting of AELTC) (the "Grand Slam Board") (together, the “Governing Bodies”). The ITIA reports to the Tennis Integrity Supervisory Board (“TISB”), which comprises a senior representative from each of the Governing Bodies and the Grand Slam Board, together with five independent directors. The ITIA liaises with the TISB in respect of its day to day functioning. This function was previously carried out by the Tennis Integrity Unit (“TIU”). The TIU has been subsumed within the ITIA (effective from 1 January 2021) but shall continue to operate only for the limited purpose of completing certain ongoing matters that commenced prior to 1 January 2021, primarily to investigate and prosecute active investigations and/or claims under the Tennis Anti- Corruption Program (“TACP”). All data previously held and used by the TIU has now transferred to the ITIA and will be used the same purposes, as set out herein.
    [Show full text]
  • Is Sport Losing Its Integrity? Richard H
    Marquette Sports Law Review Volume 21 Article 4 Issue 2 Spring Is Sport Losing its Integrity? Richard H. McLaren Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/sportslaw Part of the Entertainment and Sports Law Commons Repository Citation Richard H. McLaren, Is Sport Losing its Integrity?, 21 Marq. Sports L. Rev. 551 (2011) Available at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/sportslaw/vol21/iss2/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Marquette Law Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MCLAREN (DO NOT DELETE) 7/15/2011 10:22 AM IS SPORT LOSING ITS INTEGRITY? RICHARD H. MCLAREN* I. INTRODUCTION: SPORTING INTEGRITY WILL IT SURVIVE? The integrity of sport is vulnerable to the relentless intrusion by a minority of individuals who promote or engage in the use of gambling or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). Those individuals are challenging sports administrators to act in a forceful and meaningful way that has not been the hallmark of professional sport in these areas to date. Deliberately inept and unwilling administrators, not wishing to upset the status quo, allow gambling and drugs to thrive in their sports. At the same time, the cases arising from gambling and drugs are revealing weaknesses in the dispute resolution system‟s ability to cope with the legal cases coming forward for adjudication dealing with corruption. The current arbitration model is, in some respects, not up to the challenge. The effect of inadequate pursuit of existing regulation and its lack of administration enforcement, when combined with ineffective adjudication, are leading to an erosion of sporting integrity.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Review 20 20 This Annual Review Looks Back at the Final Year of the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) and Its Activity in 2020
    Annual Review 20 20 This Annual Review looks back at the final year of the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) and its activity in 2020. On 1st January 2021, the TIU was subsumed into the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) which became an independent body established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION - JENNIE PRICE CBE, CHAIR 03 INTRODUCTION - JONNY GRAY, CEO ITIA 04 THE TIU IN 2020 05 THE ITIA 2021 AND BEYOND 07 BOARD UPDATE 08 PROGRESS ON INDEPENDENT REVIEW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS 09 CHANGES TO 2021 TENNIS ANTI-CORRUPTION PROGRAM 10 EDUCATION UPDATE 11 OPERATIONS OVERVIEW 2020 13 2020 SANCTIONS 14 FINANCE REVIEW 16 INTRODUCTION Jennie Price CBE Independent Chair, Tennis Integrity Supervisory Board It is an understatement to say this has been a We have also worked our Board hard this year, unique year. When the Board met in January 2020 in using the opportunity of multiple virtual meetings to Melbourne for the Australian Open, news of a mystery implement many of the recommendations of the IRP virus was just beginning to enter the conversation. Report. On 1 January 2021, the Tennis Integrity Unit No-one could have anticipated the global impact of (TIU) became the International Tennis Integrity COVID-19 and the tragic loss of life we had seen by Agency (ITIA), marking its full independence from the end of the year. Everyone has had to adapt, and the International Tennis Federation. in this annual review we have tried to give a sense of what that has meant for integrity in tennis, and how With new senior resources in the team, more we have been able to keep working to protect players independent governance and streamlined processes and the sport, thanks to the unstinting support of the in the TACP, the establishment of the ITIA is a hugely tennis governing bodies and a magnificent effort by significant step for the sport, putting it at the forefront the ITIA team.
    [Show full text]
  • Tennis: the Italian Files”
    BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION RADIO 4 TRANSCRIPT OF “FILE ON 4” – “TENNIS: THE ITALIAN FILES” CURRENT AFFAIRS GROUP TRANSMISSION: Tuesday 15th March 2016 2000 – 2040 REPEAT: Sunday 20th March 2016 1700 - 1740 REPORTER: Simon Cox PRODUCER: Paul Grant EDITOR: David Ross PROGRAMME NUMBER: PMR611/16VQ5747 - 1 - THE ATTACHED TRANSCRIPT WAS TYPED FROM A RECORDING AND NOT COPIED FROM AN ORIGINAL SCRIPT. BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF MISHEARING AND THE DIFFICULTY IN SOME CASES OF IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS, THE BBC CANNOT VOUCH FOR ITS COMPLETE ACCURACY. “FILE ON 4” Transmission: Tuesday 15th March 2016 Repeat: Sunday 20th March 2016 Producer: Paul Grant Reporter: Simon Cox Editor: David Ross ACTUALITY OF BELLS COX: Tonight we are in Italy in the ancient town of Cremona, with new revelations about top tennis players named in a match fixing investigation. DI MARTINO[VIA INTERPRETER]: I think with international collaboration it would be possible to identify, possibly involve, many foreign players who are definitely part of this system. It is a problem that affects the whole world. COX: We reveal startling new evidence about another betting scandal that the tennis authorities thought had gone away. And if you think it’s only men’s tennis that has an issue, think again. Tonight we hear from insiders in the sport who say it’s a problem that’s too big to fix. MOORE: The nature of their sport and their business is just too big and too colossal to effectively make any changes. It’s impossible to police, it cannot be done. - 2 - SIGNATURE TUNE NEWSREADER: The world of professional tennis has been rocked by allegations of widespread match fixing.
    [Show full text]
  • TACKLING MATCH MANIPULATION the Sports Law & Policy Centre | Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
    FI X ING IT TACKLING MATCH MANIPULATION The Sports Law & Policy Centre | Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy COPYRIGHT NOTICE This document is a publication of the Sports Law and Policy Centre, Bengaluru. The copyright in this document vests with the Sports Law and Policy Centre, Bengaluru. This document has been prepared for informational purposes and for private circulation alone. The contents of this document are provided for reference only. It may not be relied upon as legal advice nor is it a substitute for legal advice. Please obtain legal advice prior to acting on or relying on the contents of this document. This document is not intended to be an advertisement or solicitation. The views and opinions expressed in this document are the personal views and opinions of the authors and do not represent those of any person or organisation they may represent. This document has been compiled solely based on publicly available data and information, which may or may not be accurate. Any other errors are the authors’ alone. This document contains extracts from and links to third party content and resources. We take no responsibility for such third party content published in this document. All material provided in this document is provided on an “as is” basis and we make no representation or warranty, express or implied, in relation to the contents. In relation to the third party content published in this document, we make no representation that the contents of such articles are free from error or suitable for any purpose. In no event shall the Sports Law and Policy Centre, Bengaluru be liable for any damages whatsoever, whether direct, indirect, special, consequential and/or incidental, even if they are advised of the possibility of such a loss.
    [Show full text]
  • Bi-Weekly Bulletin 8 December 2020 - 5 January 2021
    INTEGRITY IN SPORT Bi-weekly Bulletin 8 December 2020 - 5 January 2021 Photos International Olympic Committee INTERPOL is not responsible for the content of these articles. The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not represent the views of INTERPOL or its employees. INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin 8 December 2020 - 5 January 2021 INVESTIGATIONS Australia Australian first prosecution of friends who fixed eSports game A bunch of baby-faced gaming geeks are behind Australia’s first prosecution of esports match-fixing. Victoria Police spruiked of the big bust and how such offending would come with “serious consequences” when swooping on the young Melbourne men following a 13-month investigation. Their crime — conduct corrupting a betting outcome — carries a maximum penalty of 10 years jail. But the Herald Sun can reveal they will not spend a night behind bars nor have a conviction marked against their name for their fraud. Brothers Lewis and Elliott Faure, along with their mates Matthew Perri and James Kotsopoulos have instead been placed on the magistrates’ court’s diversion program. If they are of good behaviour for six months, the charges will be wiped. Police investigated the first-time crooks in March last year after a betting agency tip-off to suspicious wager activity on season 30 of the Mountain Dew League’s tournament involving popular shooter game, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit detectives linked the betting scandal on the global multiplayer video game competition to the Victorian-based team, For The Alliance (FTA), in which Perri was a player.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrity in Sport Weekly Media Recap
    INTEGRITY IN SPORT Bi-weekly Bulletin 24 November 2020 - 7 December 2020 Photos International Olympic Committee INTERPOL is not responsible for the content of these articles. The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not represent the views of INTERPOL or its employees. INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin 24 November 2020 - 7 December 2020 INVESTIGATIONS Sri Lanka ICC probes Sri Lanka T20 league over alleged match-fixing The International Cricket Council is investigating an alleged attempt to fix Sri Lankan Premier League matches due to start Thursday, a media report said. The complaint alleges a former national cricketer approached a Lanka Premier League player, and is being looked at by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), the mass-circulating Lankadeepa said. "The former national player who allegedly made the approach is currently overseas," the newspaper said, adding that he had once been accused, but later cleared, of match-fixing charges by the ICC. The ICC said it would not discuss any ongoing investigation. The Sri Lanka board's anti-corruption unit too declined comment. The Twenty20 tournament opens Thursday without spectators, but under the close scrutiny of the ICC anti-corruption officials, the national board and the sports ministry. Last week, Sri Lanka's former fast bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa said he would appeal a decision of an ICC-appointed tribunal which found him guilty of three offences relating to match-fixing after a two-year investigation. Cricket-crazy Sri Lanka introduced a law against corruption in sport last year after then-sports minister Harin Fernando declared that the ICC considered the Indian Ocean island the world's most corrupt cricket nation.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrity in Sport Weekly Media Recap
    INTEGRITY IN SPORT Bi-weekly Bulletin 5-18 February 2019 Photos International Olympic Committee INTERPOL is not responsible for the content of these articles. The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not represent the views of INTERPOL or its employees. INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin 5-18 February 2019 INVESTIGATIONS Kenya Fifa want match-fixing probe into Kenyan 2010 World Cup tie Fifa wants a full investigation into allegations that several Kenya internationals were fixed, including a 2010 World Cup qualifier. The move by football's world governing body follows a preliminary investigation into the roles of former Kenya international George Owino and convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal. A ten-page Fifa report says it has prima facie evidence of the pair conspiring to manipulate and influence the result of several international matches. "Fifa is currently looking into the matter and an investigation into alleged match-manipulation in Kenyan football is underway," a Fifa spokesperson told BBC Sport. The allegations refer to internationals played by Kenya between 2009-2011, which include a World Cup clash against Tunisia which the latter won 1-0. "Mr Owino … appears to have conspired to manipulate international matches and enter into corrupt agreements with Mr Perumal," stated Fifa's preliminary investigation report. Owino, who played for Kenya between 2008 and 2015, has denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Perumal, who has previously been convicted for match-fixing in Finland and Hungary, has yet to publicly comment on the latest allegations. The report dated September 2018 has only just come to light.
    [Show full text]