$10k fine and a lifetime ban ends tennis umpire’s career after evident involvement in match-fixing and gambling comes to light

The ban means Pavel Atanasov won't be able to officiate any ITIA-authorized matches.

$10k fine and a lifetime ban ends tennis umpire’s career after evident involvement in match-fixing and gambling comes to light

Pavel Atanasov (Image via ITIA)

On Friday, April 19th, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) released a statement, announcing that they have banned Bulgarian tennis umpire Pavel Atanasov for life after multiple charges. He is accused of breaching 21 rules set up by the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

This means Atanasov won’t be able to officiate any ITIA-authorized matches. He used to be an umpire for the ITF $15K and $25K events.

In withdrawing from proceedings, Atanasov effectively admitted liability for numerous TACP offenses between 2019 and 2023, including the manipulation of scoring data of matches for betting purposes, facilitating wagering, conspiring to commit corruption offenses, wagering on tennis matches, and failure to report corrupt approaches.
The ITIA stated

Though Atanasov initially challenged the conviction, he withdrew it before his hearing in front of the Anti-Corruption Hearing Office (AHO), which is an independent body. The AHO then slapped Atanasov with a $10,000 fine.

ITIA also suspended umpire Fernanda Brito for six months

On 17th April, the ITIA also punished a player. The organization fined Chile’s Fernanda Brito for six months for her failure to give details regarding a TACP investigation.

ITIA
Fernanda Brito (Image via Imago)

Last year, the ITIA asked her to reveal certain information about that active investigation but as he did not co-operate, ITIA had to take action. According to the rule under Section F.2.b, all players have to comply with the ITIA’s instructions, which Brito did not.

As a consequence, the 32-year-old player’s suspension started on April 5 and will end on October 4 this year. The suspension means she won’t be able to hit the courts for competitions, can’t take up coaching duties, and is even prohibited from attending matches sanctioned by ITIA members. Before Brito, the ITIA suspended Italy’s national standard official Antonio Casa for seven years. He used to officiate ITF $15K and $25K tournaments. Apart from the ban, he had to pay $25,001 as a fine ($17,001 is suspended).

Three more members (one player and two officials) also received punishment from the organization this April. Spanish player Aaron Cortes was banned for 15 years due to corruption charges. Peru’s Luis Horna breached betting rules for which he was banned for six months and was fined $10,000. Manuel Guion, an Italian official was charged with corruption-related activities, receiving a suspension of five years and six months.

ITIA was established in 2021. Its headquarters is in Bank Lane, Roehampton, London, SW15 5XZ, United Kingdom, and Karen Moorhouse is the current CEO. The organization must safeguard the integrity of professional tennis.

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