Giorgio Galimberti is the fourth Italian tennis player to be banned for betting on tennis matches.
The ATP has said Galimberti bet on tennis matches between June 2003 and January 2006, but didn’t say if he had wagers on his own matches. Galimberti, 31, has been suspended from the sport for 100 days and ordered to pay a fine of $35,000.
“Everyone connected to the ATP Tour has a duty to abide by the rules, especially those designed to protect and uphold the integrity of our sport, and the ATP will continue to instigate disciplinary proceedings against anyone found not to be doing so, said Gayle David Bradshaw, the ATP executive vice president of rules and competition.
An investigation by the ATP was launched in August and their findings were given to the independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer, Dr Peter Bratschi, who concluded that Galimberti was guilty of placing bets.
Giorgio Galimberti joins the list of Potito Starace, Daniele Bracciali and Alessio Di Mauro, as Italian tennis players suspended for betting on tennis matches involving other players.
Back in November, Alessio Di Mauro was suspended for nine months and fined $60,000. In December, Potito Starace was the next player to be suspended, this time for six weeks and he was also ordered to pay a fine of $30,000. Finally, Daniele Bracciali was suspended for three months and fined $20,000 in the same month.
With their recent action, it looks clear the ATP are working hard to stamp out match-fixing in the sport, what with the recent suspensions and fines.
Bradshaw added, “The ATP’s Tennis Anti-Corruption Program is clear in regards to gamling on tennis matches by ATP players, player associates and staff.
“It unambiguously states that gambling on any form of tennis matches will not be tolerated.”
Organisers of the French Open tournament have recently filed suit in a move to ban online gambling firms from offering bets on the Grand Slam event.
The tennis world has been rocked by rumours of match-fixing since online betting exchange Betfair, voided bets in a match last summer between Nikolay Davydenko and Martin Vassallo Arguello in Poland. Davydenko the clear favourite to win the match received many bets against him on Betfair’s website and he withdrew in the third set.
Both Davydenko and Arguello deny they were offered to fix the match, however several players have said they have been offered money to throw matches.
