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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Tennis Authorities Deny Italian Claims Over Match-Fixing Evidence

Tennis authorities said that they "strongly refute" claims made by an Italian prosecutor that they have "ignored evidence of match-fixing in the sport," according to Sean Ingle of the London GUARDIAN. Cremona Chief Prosecutor Roberto Di Martino called for "more than two dozen top players to be investigated by the Tennis Integrity Unit for possible links to betting rings." Di Martino told Buzzfeed and the BBC that "he had evidence that players were offered" between €50,000 ($56,135) and €300,000 ($336,807) to throw matches. He also claimed that his files "included references to at least 37 players, only eight of whom are Italian and 29 of whom have ranked in the top 50." But the TIU rejected claims that it "had not done enough, and accused Martino of not helping it despite repeated requests." Di Martino claimed that "more than 24 non-Italian players had been mentioned by gamblers in recordings of phone calls and internet chat logs acquired through his investigation." He said, "Interestingly, they are not so-called second-tier tennis players, but also players of some importance" (GUARDIAN, 3/15).

ITALIAN JOB: In Sydney, Linda Pearce reported Italian players Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace have "both been indicted on corruption charges." Both "deny any wrongdoing" and are expected to face court in May. The TIU said that it had been attempting, since Oct. '14, to "obtain the evidence required to substantiate allegations made against Bracciali and Starace from the Cremona prosecutor's office." In a statement, the TIU said, "The TIU had to engage legal counsel in Italy to obtain the information contained in Mr. Di Martino's investigation and is now listed as an Injured Party in the ongoing criminal proceedings. ... We have in the past requested, and repeat today, that if BuzzFeed and the BBC believe they have hard evidence of corruption, they make it immediately available. Tennis welcomes all and any new evidence that can assist the TIU in its work." Long-time anti-corruption campaigner Richard Ings backed the TIU's defense, "which has been supported by the tennis governing bodies." Ings said, "The explanation offered by the Tennis Integrity Unit in my experience makes complete sense. The Tennis Integrity Unit must absolutely wait until the Italian judicial process is complete before initiating any investigation into player subject to that judicial process" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/16).

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