Tennis match fixing and doping sanctions rise in Q2 2025, says ITIA
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has reported a rise in sanctions for corruption and doping in the second quarter of 2025, issuing more disciplinary measures than in the first quarter. The agency, which oversees integrity in professional tennis worldwide, also confirmed ten match alerts and more than 2,100 anti-doping samples collected during the period.
Despite the increase in enforcement, the ITIA reaffirmed its commitment to education and player support. “Education, support and engagement remain strategic priorities for the organisation,” wrote CEO Karen Moorhouse in her quarterly introduction, adding that the ITIA continues to work “throughout every level of the game – from Grand Slams through to ITF World Tennis Tour 15K tournaments”.
Notable cases and rising sanctions
During the second quarter, a total of 24 individuals were penalised under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP), including multiple lifetime bans. Yannick Thivant (France) and Luis Rodriguez (Mexico) received lifetime suspensions, while others such as Thomas Brechemier (France), Christian Lindell (Sweden), and Tom Jomby (France) received bans ranging from five to over seven years.
This is a significant increase from Q1. Notable cases included Agustin Moyano from Argentina, who received a 15-year ban, and Juan Gabriel Castro from Bolivia, who was suspended for six years.
In terms of doping violations, the ITIA confirmed five sanctions under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) in Q2. Max Purcell (Australia) was suspended for 18 months, while Tsao Chia-yi (Taiwan) and Yash Chaurasia (India) were both handed 12-month suspensions. That figure marks a rise from Q1, which saw only two players sanctioned under the anti-doping code.
The ITIA defended its decision to appeal in the high-profile case of Tara Moore (United Kingdom), saying, “It was clear to us, and our independent scientific experts, that the levels of nandrolone in the player’s sample were not explained by meat contamination.” The agency noted that upholding the initial ruling “would have set a very dangerous precedent across global sports”.
Match alerts and testing continue steadily
In Q2, the agency received ten match alerts through its confidential betting industry agreements – one more than in Q1. Alerts in Q2 spanned ATP Challenger events, WTA tournaments, and World Tennis Tour matches. The ITIA stressed that “an alert on its own is not evidence of match-fixing” and that alerts are indicators that are assessed further.
Anti-doping testing remained robust, with 2,165 samples collected from players across 30 countries in Q2. That’s slightly down from Q1’s 2,242 samples, but testing remained widespread across competition levels, from ITF $15K tournaments to the French Open.
All tests were conducted without prior notice. “Tests in Q2 of 2025 took place at events ranging from ITF $15K level to the French Open,” the ITIA confirmed, with both in- and out-of-competition testing carried out globally.
A growing focus on transparency and communication
Alongside disciplinary measures, the ITIA continued to expand its education and engagement efforts. “This year we began to produce short videos which break down the often unwieldy and confusing process of some of the higher-profile cases,” wrote Moorhouse. The agency also announced plans to launch a secure WhatsApp messaging channel to make it easier for players and staff to seek advice or report concerns confidentially.
In Q1, Moorhouse had already emphasised a shift to earlier engagement with athletes, noting that “two-thirds of the tour debutants… had already received one-to-one education from us before their main draw debuts”.
