TENNIS INTEGRITY UNIT Annual Review 2016 2 3
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TENNIS INTEGRITY UNIT Annual Review 2016 2 3 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH The governing bodies The TIU gave evidence to the The TIU published of tennis refuted media UK Government’s Culture, quarterly figures for THE TIU IN allegations made during Media and Sport Committee Match Alert data received The issue of betting-related corruption in The governing bodies of tennis strenuously the Australian Open -tennis match fixing through Memorandums tennis made 2016 a difficult year for the refuted the media allegations made during the against the conduct and investigation, in London. of Understanding with the integrity of our sport. The Tennis Integrity Australian Open, and continue to do so. But to resourcing of the TIU. An betting industry. From Independent Review Panel Unranked Thai tennis player January to March 2016, Unit (TIU) was the subject of serious allow them to be thoroughly tested, tennis was commissioned to test Jatuporn Nalamphun was 48 alerts were received, media allegations during the Australian commissioned an Independent Review Panel 2016 the claims and carry out the suspended for 18 months assessed and followed up. Open in January, that questioned its (IRP) with an extensive remit to undertake most rigorous review of the and fined US$5,000 conduct, effectiveness and resourcing. the most rigorous and thorough review of sport’s integrity. after being found guilty of the sport’s integrity. betting on tennis matches. During the year, information received from He was also convicted of partners in the betting industry confirmed The Tennis Integrity Board (TIB) looks failing to co-operate with an increasing number of matches at the forward to the IRP’s Interim Report in the a TIU investigation. lower levels of the professional game that spring of 2017, and to the Final Report that were the subject of unusual or suspicious will follow. We have already committed betting patterns. While this was not to accept, implement and fund all of its conclusive proof of corruption, it is an recommendations. APRIL MAY JUNE JULY indication of concern that in all cases In the meantime the TIB, on behalf of all has to be investigated by the TIU. The TIU’s operational Former UK law enforcement 73 match alerts were Bulgarian player Danail governing bodies, continues to provide resource and capability officer Simon Cowell joined received and actioned by Tarpov was suspended for It is of course extremely regrettable that unanimous and unequivocal support to the was expanded with the the TIU as an Investigator. the TIU for the second three months and fined corruption exists in tennis and while the vast TIU. Stringent enforcement of the sport’s recruitment of experienced quarter of the year, April to €5,000 for a betting-related majority of players and officials are beyond zero-tolerance approach to betting-related Data Analyst Nadia June 2016. During this offence. Both sanction and reproach, those that choose to abuse the sport corruption remains our highest priority. Tuominen who joined period, 30,353 professional fine were suspended for the Intelligence and matches were played, with two years on condition should be under no doubt that they will be Information team. the alerts featuring on that no further offences subject to rigorous investigation, and where PHILIP BROOK 0.24% of those matches. are committed. proven to have broken the rules, prosecuted Former Australian under the powers of the Tennis Anti- Tennis Integrity Board Chairman 2016 player Nick Lindahl was Corruption Program. fined A$1,000 by a NSW magistrate for match-fixing offences. The TIU worked AUGUST SEPTEMBER closely with Australian law enforcement agencies to TIU investigations resulted The TIU supported the International Olympic Committee support the case. in four tennis officials to provide a robust anti-corruption environment for the receiving lifetime bans. Olympic Tennis Event in Rio de Janeiro (6-14 August). Sherzod Hasanov, Arkhip TIU investigative staff were onsite at the Event. Molotyagin, Serkan Aslan The Independent Review Panel website and Mehmet Ulker were (www.tennisirp.com) confir med publication of an Interim found guilty by an ITF Report in the first quarter of 2017, with a Final Report to Disciplinary Panel of follow after a period of consultation. multiple corruption charges. Constant Lestienne, France, was suspended for seven The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) responded which contributed directly to the added months and fined US$10,000 to a substantially increased workload in 2016 numbers of match alerts received. for betting on tennis. The with significant expansion and development, OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Along with its investigative and preventative suspension was reduced designed to provide tennis with the level of Daniel Garza, Mexico, was CAS dismissed the separate 75 match alerts were roles, the TIU has an important part to play to three months and two resource and expertise needed to meet the suspended for six months appeals of Piotr Gadomski received during the weeks and half the fine in developing and delivering anti-corruption challenges posed by corruption in the sport. and fined US$5,000 after and Alexandros Jakupovic October to December considered paid for education to players and officials. Our ability to being found guilty of against sanctions imposed period, bringing the full supporting the TIU with To fully assess and follow up the information expand the scope of the current program will attempting to influence for breaches of the TACP. year total for 2016 to 292. anti-corruption education. contained in a record number of intelligence be greatly enhanced with the appointment the outcome of a match This compares with 246 reports, together with match alerts from of a Training and Education Manager in early at the ITF USA Futures 11 alerts during 2015. South African player Joshua Chetty was banned for life the betting industry, the operational team 2017. The role will be supported by a new tournament at Calabasas, California, in March 2015. after being found guilty of in London was doubled in size to ten full online training program and smartphone match-fixing offences. time employees. As a result, more players App, both developed in 2016. Two additional Investigators, and officials were investigated, prosecuted Sarah Hamlet and Lacksley The TIU received 96 match In line with this greatly increased activity, and sanctioned than in any previous year Harris, joined the TIU. An alerts for the period from which is driven entirely by the operating since the TIU was established in 2008. The Education Manager role was July to September. environment in the sport, the TIU budget great majority of cases involved players and created to expand the scope for 2017 stands at US$3.23 million officials operating at the lower levels of the of the player and officials (US$2.4 million in 2016). sport, at ITF Futures and ATP Challenger level. training program. The TIU also expanded the number of NIGEL WILLERTON confidential Memorandums of Understanding agreed with betting operators and regulators, Director, Tennis Integrity Unit 4 5 TENNIS INTEGRITY UNIT THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS STRUCTURE AND REMIT TIU INTELLIGENCE GATHERING The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) was downloading. Financial information and established by the governing bodies of other relevant records can also be requested “The TIU has tennis in 2008 as the independent agency to support investigations. The TIU can open for implementing the sport’s zero-tolerance investigations into any Covered Person in a global remit approach to all aspects of betting-related any part of the world, at any time. corruption. The TIU takes its investigative The TACP sets out a range of offences and to investigate powers from the Tennis Anti-Corruption punishments, including, at the maximum Program (TACP), which came into effect ASSESS ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED end of the scale, life bans and fines of up in January 2009. This acts as the anti- and prosecute to US$250,000. corruption code for all professional tennis. Tennis has an independent judiciary process, players, officials Based in London, UK, the TIU has a global where anti-corruption hearings are presided remit to investigate and prosecute players, over by highly qualified Anti-Corruption and other parties officials and other parties for breaches of the Hearing Officers. They bring extensive TACP. It is also charged with delivering anti- legal experience and expertise to the role. for breaches of corruption training and education across the OPEN INVESTIGATION WHEN EVIDENCE Disciplinary decisions reached by Hearing sport, and for implementing measures to INDICATES CORRUPT ACTIVITY Officers are implemented by the Tennis the TACP.” help prevent corruption taking place. Integrity Board, on behalf of the sport. TIU investigators have powers to These decisions can be appealed to the obtain, with agreement, mobile phones, Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). tablets and laptops for analysis and data INTERVIEW SUSPECTS AND WITNESSES AND ANALYSE DATA AND FINANCIAL RECORDS The Tennis Integrity Board (TIB) is the policy making executive providing oversight and strategic direction for TENNIS INTEGRITY BOARD MEMBERS the TIU. It is responsible for financing the work of the unit through a funding CASE REFERRED TO PROFESSIONAL formula based on contributions of 25% TENNIS INTEGRITY OFFICERS WHO each from the WTA and the ATP, and REVIEW AND APPROVE 10% each from the ITF and the four Grand Slams. In 2016 the Board met on four occasions; at the Australian Open in January, Roland Garros, May, US Open, September, and the ATP World HEARING HELD BY INDEPENDENT Tour Finals, London, in November. ANTI-CORRUPTION HEARING OFFICER The Chairman of the Board was Philip Brook, Chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. He is succeeded for 2017 by David Haggerty, President PHILIP BROOK CHRIS KERMODE DAVID HAGGERTY STEVE SIMON of the ITF. The chairmanship rotates between the governing bodies on a Chairman, All England Executive Chairman President, ITF Chief Executive 12-monthly, calendar year cycle.