Tennis’ governing bodies announce review into Tennis Anti-Corruption Program

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  • The sport's governing bodies have come together.

    MELBOURNE, Australia: An independent review of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program was announced Wednesday by the chairmen and CEOs of the governing bodies of the sport – ATP, WTA, ITF and the Grand Slam Board – in light of the recent match-fixing allegations and suspicions.

    The Independent Review  Panel (IRP) will be headed by Adam Lewis QC, described by Philip Brook – chairman of Wimbledon and of the Tennis Integrity Board – as a leading expert on sports law at the London bar and internationally.

    The IRP will review and report on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program and make recommendations for change.

    It will take into account public commentary regarding the processes, procedures and resources of the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU).

    The governing bodies of international tennis said they expect the IRP to address issues including: “How the TIU can be more transparent without compromising the TIU’s need for investigative confidentiality, additional resources for the TIU both within the unit and at tournaments, structural and/or governance changes that enhance the independence of the TIU, and how to extend the scope and reach of the tennis integrity education program.”

    “The four important points are: there is no deadline to this review, it will take as long as it is needed; it will cost what it costs; the results will be made public and will be published; and the most important point is we have committed to act on every recommendation,” said ATP chairman Chris Kermode in a press conference at Melbourne Park.

    Tennis has been struck by corruption allegations over the past two weeks at the Australian Open after an investigation by the BBC and BuzzFeed which pointed to widespread match-fixing taking place at the highest level of the sport.

    Match-fixing suspicions were also raised by a New York Times report that said a mixed doubles match last Sunday raised flags that forced a gambling company to suspend betting.

    “It is vital that we repair this damage and that we do so quickly, which is why today we’re announcing an independent review that will examine all aspects of tennis’ Anti-Corruption Program, including the Tennis Integrity Unit’s work, which will make recommendations for change,” said Brook.

    “We are determined to do everything we need to do to remove corruption from our sport.”

    Asked if he saw the situation right now more as a perception problem rather than an actual problem, Brook said: “Yes. I think most of the problem has been caused, I think, by events 10 days ago.

    “We have a lot of belief in the work of the Tennis Integrity Unit. You see the outcome of some of it. We have to repair the damage that’s been done. But we also recognise that we can improve.”

    Brook also mentioned that the IRP will “take a good look” at the issue of betting companies being allowed to sponsor major tournaments like William Hill partnering with the Australian Open or Betway signing a deal with the ITF.

    Transparency has been another issue strongly addressed over the past 10 days with world No2 Andy Murray saying it is something lacking in many sports, not just tennis.

    “What’s come out of this is we do have to do a better job of communicating, educating, and a degree of transparency, whilst keeping individual investigation, for obvious reasons, confidential,” said Kermode who later added that they have nothing to hide at all.

    Several names of players have appeared on lists recently, linking them to match-fixing, with no concrete evidence proving their involvement.

    “What I don’t like is names are attached based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever. I think it’s deeply unfair, deeply damaging to the players,” said Kermode.

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