TENNIS UMPIRE HANDED LIFETIME BAN FOR USING DEVICE TO 'FACILITATE GUARANTEED BETTING WINS'
A tennis umpire from the Dominican Republic has been banned for life after it was found that he manipulated the scoring of matches in 2019. In a statement, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said Fabian Carrero was found guilty of "multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP)".
Carrero was found to have committed 16 breaches of the programme across eight matches in ITF M15 tournaments held in the Dominican Republic in November and December 2019. An ITIA statement said the umpire manipulated the match scoring in a handheld device "to facilitate guaranteed betting wins on specific points."
He had already been suspended since 1 March 2022, when the case proceeded. Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Ian Mill, KC heard the case and it was concluded that Carrero was guilty.
After being slapped with a lifetime ban, Carrero is now "permanently prohibited from officiating at or attending any sanctioned tennis events organised or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport."
The umpire was found to have breached two clauses of the TACP across the eight matches including D.1.d: "No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive, attempt to contrive, agree to contrive, or conspire to contrive the outcome, or any other aspect, of any Event."
Carrero also breached clause D.2.b.i which states: "In the event any Related Person or Tournament Support Person is approached by any person who offers or provides any type of money, benefit or Consideration to a Related Person or Tournament Support Person to (i) influence or attempt to influence the outcome of any aspect of any Event, or (ii) provide Inside Information, it shall be the Related Person's or Tournament Support Person's obligation to report such incident to the TIU [now ITIA] as soon as possible."
Carrero was a green badge official - a Level 1 status in officiating. The ITIA is an independent body established in 2021 by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.
The ITIA carries out its duties through preventing corruption and doping from taking place, the investigation and prosecution of offenders, and delivering anti-corruption and anti-doping education for players and stakeholders, to recognise and report dishonest activity.