The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced this Tuesday the sanction imposed on Dominican tennis player Maikel Villalona, 21 years old, for violating the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
Suspension and Charges
Villalona was suspended for four years and six months due to multiple infractions. The tennis player, who is not in the world ranking, was accused on October 15th of committing five violations of the anti-corruption code.
- Match-fixing.
- Acceptance of money.
- Failure to report a corrupt approach.
These facts are related to a doubles match of the ITF World Tennis Tour in 2022, as reported by the ITIA in an official statement.
Lack of Cooperation
The organization also held Villalona responsible for not cooperating with the investigation, by ignoring five requests to be interviewed at the beginning of 2025.
Given the lack of response to the charges filed, Villalona admitted his responsibility for all the accusations and accepted the sanction.
Additional Sanctions
In addition to the suspension, a fine of $10,000 was imposed.
The tennis player decided not to appeal the punishment, which came into effect on October 30, and prohibits him from playing, training, or attending any tennis event organized by entities affiliated with the ITIA.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency is an independent body that brings together the main players in world tennis.
