Italian First Tennis Player Suspended For Betting On Matches

ATP Suspends Di Mauro For Betting On Tennis Matches

Italian tennis player Alessio Di Mauro has received a nine-month suspension and a $60,000 fine for betting on matches, becoming the first player “to be punished under the sport’s anti-corruption program,” according to Lisa Dillman of the L.A. TIMES. ATP VP/Rules & Competition Gayle Bradshaw said the ATP "requested that the maximum sentence [of a three-year suspension] be imposed and whilst we would have preferred a longer suspension, we recognize that the independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer has to administer sanctions related to the specifics of the case and not as a general prevention." An investigation found that Di Mauro, the No. 124 ranked player in the world, bet on matches from November ’06 through June. His suspension will be lifted next August (L.A. TIMES, 11/11). Di Mauro was found to have placed 120 bets during the eight months, but none were on his own matches. He claims that the punishment is “too severe and he’s a scapegoat for the match-fixing scandals surrounding the sport” (USA TODAY, 11/12).

DAVYDENKO: In London, Mark Hodgkinson reported Nikolay Davydenko’s attorney, Frank Immenga, claims the ATP has been “unprofessional” in its investigation about possible match fixing involving Davydenko. Immenga said that the process has left Davydenko “mentally burnt out and suffering from ‘classic signs of depression’” (London TELEGRAPH, 11/10). Immenga said, “This whole proceeding is weird, and the way they are treating my client is unbelievable. … You don’t send him a legalized telephone request while he’s playing the U.S. Open” (L.A. TIMES, 11/10).

HINGIS: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour President Stacy Allaster said that the tour will get involved in helping Martina Hingis fight her positive cocaine test only “after doping authorities hand over a report on the case.” Allaster said, “We let that process happen independently and then, depending on the findings of the tennis anti-doping committee, we’ll be there to support Martina.” Hingis appeared this weekend at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships (AP, 11/11).

SOME POSITIVE NEWS: Justine Henin won the Sony Ericsson Championships and its $1M winner’s share, making her the first female player to earn over $5M for a season (Mult., 11/12).