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Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) imposed a lifetime ban to Brazilian professional tennis player Joao Olavo Soares de Souza for multiple match-fixing offences. TIU also imposed a $200.000 fine for breaching numerous times the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) between 2015 and 2019.
The 31-year old tennis pro was ranked 742 in ATP singles, having reached a career-high of 69 reached in April 2015. As a doubles player, Souza reached his career-high ranking of 70 in January 2013.
Breaches included repeated incidents of match-fixing at ATP Challenger and ITF Futures events held in Brazil, Mexico, the US and Czech Republic. On top of that Souza found guilty for failing to report corruption approaches, for failing to fully co-operate with the TIU and for destroying evidence.
Independent anti-corruption hearing officer Prof. Richard McLaren issued the ban and fine and Souza will no longer be able to compete in or attend any event organized or recognized by a tennis governing body.
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), the integrity monitoring body formerly known as ESSA, said it welcomed the decision and praised the work of the TIU: “The IBIA welcomes the decision to impose a lifetime ban and $200,000 fine on Joao Olavo Soares de Souza after a conviction on match-fixing charges.
IBIA and its members will continue to work closely with the TIU and the association is confident that the measures being taken by the sport aligned with the detailed customer-based data provided by IBIA members will continue to enable the identification and punishment of betting related corruption in tennis.”
The ruling comes after the TIU last week revealed it received 138 reports over suspicious match activity in 2019, which was the lowest annual amount since its integrity data was first made public in 2015.
