Austrian tennis player Daniel Koellerer has been banned from professional tennis for life and fined US$100,000 after being found guilty of match-fixing by the anti-corruption Tennis Integrity Unit.
Koellerer was found guilty of three charges under Article D of the 2010 Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.
The three charges were; contriving or attempting to contrive the outcome of an event; soliciting or facilitating a player not to use his or her best efforts in an event; and soliciting, offering or providing money, benefit or consideration to any other covered person with the intention of negatively influencing a player’s best efforts in any event.
The three violations occurred between October 2009 and July 2010.
The case against him was based on the findings of a Tennis Integrity Unit investigation and considered by an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer at a two-day Hearing held in London last month.
The life ban applies with immediate effect, and means that Koellerer, currently ranked 385 in the world but a former world number 55, is not eligible to participate in any tournament or competition organised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of professional tennis.
Last August, Koellerer and his agent Manfred Nareyka were disciplined under the Uniform Anti-Corruption Programme for facilitating betting. A Tennis Integrity Unit investigation found that Koellerer’s personal website carried details of betting odds on tennis matches and provided links to allow users to place bets.
The offence of facilitating betting contravenes Article D1b of the Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme. Both Koellerer and his agent admitted the offences, with Koellerer receiving a €15,000 fine and a three month ban from professional tennis. Both penalties were suspended for two years on the condition that he does not infringe the Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme in that period.
Nareyka received a twelve month suspension of credentials and access to any professional tennis events, again suspended for two years.
The Tennis Integrity Unit is an initiative of the Grand Slam Committee, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP World Tour and the WTA as part of the Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme.
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