The Global Tennis Integrity Agency (GTIA) has declared that six Spanish tennis competitors have been prohibited from the sport after being found guilty in a Spanish court of criminal actions related to manipulating match outcomes.
Six Spanish tennis competitors have been prohibited for match manipulation.
Marc Fornell Mestre, whose peak ATP ranking was 236, and Jorge Marse Vidri, whose peak ATP ranking was 562, both received prohibitions. Unranked competitors Carlos Ortega, Jaime Ortega, Marcos Torralbo, and Pedro Bernabe Franco also received prohibitions.
The six competitors all confessed to corruption charges and were found guilty in Spain as part of a broader case involving organized crime, which is still ongoing.
These convictions mark the conclusion of a five-year cooperative process involving the GTIA, Spanish law enforcement, and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
With the criminal case concluded, the GTIA was able to penalize the competitors, choosing to impose lengthy prohibitions and financial penalties.
Mestre was prohibited for 22 years and six months and fined $250,000 (£203,593/€237,906), of which $200,000 was suspended. Vidri was prohibited for 15 years and fined $15,000, of which $5,000 was suspended.
Ortega faced a 15-year prohibition and a $150,000 penalty, with $140,000 of the fine waived. Ortega was also prohibited for 7.5 years and levied a $100,000 fine, with $90,000 of the fine suspended.
Tallarbo was barred for 15 years and fined $100,000, with $85,000 of the fine suspended, while Franco was banned for 15 years and fined $100,000, with $75,000 of the fine suspended.
All six individuals are prohibited from participating in or attending any tennis competition sanctioned or approved by any international tennis governing body or national association during their bans. They are also prohibited from coaching in professional matches.
“The conclusion of this protracted investigation marks a significant moment in the battle against corruption in tennis,” stated ITIA Chair Jenny Price. “While we are not pleased to see six individuals found guilty and banned, the message is clear: match-fixing will result in imprisonment and could end your career in tennis.
“It also serves as a reminder that organized crime is targeting sports, and governments and law enforcement agencies, along with sports anti-corruption organizations, need to take this threat seriously.”
ITIA CEO Jonny Gray added: “This represents one of the most significant incursions of organized crime into tennis that we have witnessed. We welcome the involvement of law enforcement and the prosecution of the entire criminal network, not just the players involved.”
This ruling delivers a powerful message that manipulating competitions is a criminal offense and will result in legal consequences. I extend my gratitude to the investigative, intelligence, and legal groups who have diligently worked to conclude this case over the past five years.
We have also benefited from significant cooperation from the ITIA and Spanish law enforcement, as well as the ongoing support of tennis organizations. Lastly, we are deeply appreciative of the evidence provided by the gambling sector, which contributed to these convictions.