USTA Taking Steps To Avoid Their Own Gambling Scandal
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USTA Hires Security Firm In
Wake Of Davydenko Match |
The USTA has hired security firm SafirRosetti, set up a whistle-blower hotline and is “taking other steps to make sure it doesn't wind up with a gambling scandal,” according to Howard Fendrich of AP. The move is concurrent with the ATP investigation into suspicious betting on a match involving Nikolay Davydenko, as well as the controversy around former NBA referee Tim Donaghy. USTA Senior Dir of PR Chris Widmaier said, "Do we think there's a problem? Actually, we don't. But we want to make sure we're as equipped and have as much knowledge of this issue as we can." Fendrich noted SafirRosetti, which has worked with NYRA and various sports leagues and clubs, “will have an investigative team on site" during the U.S. Open, which begins Monday. SafirRosetti Chair & CEO Howard Safir was N.Y. police commissioner from ’96-’00 (AP, 8/23). USTA Chief Exec of Professional Tennis Arlen Kantarian: “There is absolutely no reason that we know of where we suspect the nature of any betting as it relates to the U.S. Open. But I think it is incumbent on all of us to take a keener look on how we approach these policies.” He added that SafirRosetti would not be conducting interviews or an investigation. In N.Y., Liz Robbins reports the USTA is in discussions with “all the governing bodies of tennis to create a unified anti-gambling program.” WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott wrote in an e-mail, “We are actively discussing the details of these measures with the USTA, and will be discussing them with our players this coming weekend” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/24). NBC tennis analyst John McEnroe said that tennis will “face ‘an unbelievable problem’ if suspicions of illegal gambling are true.” McEnroe said gamblers “could offer (players) more than they make in an entire year. It has to be investigated very carefully” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/24).
SISTER ACT: As part of Monday night’s “Breaking Barriers” celebration of Althea Gibson winning the U.S. Open in ’57, the USTA has scheduled Serena and Venus Williams to make their debuts in back-to-back matches (N.Y. POST, 8/24).
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