By John Wendt, Professor Emeritus, University of St. Thomas
Sports-betting misconduct and gambling related corruption scandals have been in the news recently. Major League Baseball Players were indicted and charged with fraud, conspiracy and bribery arising from an alleged scheme of rigging pitches.[1] Some have questions about the integrity of NBA games.[2] Turkish soccer is embroiled in a huge investigation with players, owners and even referees under investigation.[3]
Tennis has also been investigating similar activities. In 2008, in reaction to increased attention from the sports-betting community, tennis’ governing bodies (ITF, ATP, WTA, the Grand Slam Board) established the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) to enforce their anti-corruption policies.[4] On January 1, 2021, tennis replaced the London-based TIU with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) as an “independent body responsible for safeguarding the integrity of professional tennis”.[5]
The two major prongs of the work of ITIA are anti-corruption and anti-doping. ITIA’s vision is that tennis events are free from corruption and doping, and their mission is “Delivering impactful anti-doping and anti-corruption programmes to protect the integrity of our Members’ events and those who participate in them. Our programmes are intelligence-led, innovative, collaborative and focus on prevention alongside detection.”[6]
The heart of ITIA’s first prong is the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) designed “to maintain the integrity of our sport and protect against corruption and betting related offences”.[7] TACP’s purposes are to “(i) maintain the integrity of tennis, (ii) protect against any efforts to impact improperly the results of any match and (iii) establish a uniform rule and consistent scheme of enforcement and sanctions applicable to all professional tennis Events and to all Governing Bodies.”[8]
To show how serious tennis is taking anti-corruption and sports betting you only need to look at the recent case of French tennis player Quentin Folliot. Folliot is the sixth player to be sanctioned as a result of s sports betting and match-fixing investigation, following the cases of Jaimee Floyd-Angele, Paul Valsecchi, Luc Fomba, Lucas Bouquet and Enzo Rimoli.[9]
Regarding Folliot, on 20 and 21 October 20-21, 2025, a remote hearing was held before independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Amani Khalifa who found that Folliot (age 26) had breached the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program twenty-seven (27) times and was fined $70,000, ordered to repay more than $44,000 and suspended for 20 years![10] Given time served since Folliot was provisionally suspended on May 17, 2024, and provided he pays the fines and repayment obligations, Folliot’s suspension will end on May 14, 2044 when he is 45 years old![11]
Folliot reached his highest world singles ranking of 488 in August 2022. He was originally charged with thirty (30) offenses relating to his conduct in professional tournaments between 2022 and 2024. Charges include manipulating the outcome of matches, disclosing inside information about matches, offering “financial inducements” to other players to influence match results, accepting payments in connection with alleged corrupt activities, conspiring with others to commit additional corrupt offenses, and failure to cooperate with ITIA’s investigation.[12]
AHO Khalifa found that, “Match-fixing is a serious threat to tennis. Once admitted to or proven, matchfixing is a deliberate, intentional offense that threatens competition by eliminating the uncertainty which is the heart of professional tennis.”[13] Khalifa found that, “In this matter, the AHO has found Mr. Folliot to have committed twenty-seven (27) separate breaches of the TACP between 2022 and 2024. The sheer volume and gravity of these offenses, which include contriving matches, corrupting fellow players, and obstructing the subsequent investigation, represent a profound assault on the integrity of the sport.”[14] Khalifa noted that there were aggravating factors including Folliot’s obstruction and interference of ITIA’s investigation.[15]
Khalifa went on to find that Folliot’s actions had a “Significant, material impact on the reputation and/or integrity of the sport”. Notably, “His wrongdoing was not confined to his own matches, he acted as a vector for a wider criminal syndicate, actively recruiting other players and attempting to embed corruption more deeply into the professional tours. This systemic nature of his offending causes damage that is far more significant than that of a player who only fixes their own matches. In this respect, Mr. Folliot’s conduct established him as a key figure for contriving matches and corrupting other players at this level of the sport, representing a grave threat to its integrity.”[16]
During his twenty-year period of ineligibility, Folliot is prohibited from competing, coaching or attending any tennis event authorized by the members of the ITIA. This includes any and all events sanctioned by ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA or any national association.[17] That is a steep price to pay.
The ITIA in their Strategy statement states that prevention is at the heart of their work and that education and engagement are just as important as investigations and sanctions.[18] As they state in the Forward to their Strategy ITIA, “We believe that the vast majority of tennis matches played across member events, and the players we all watch and enjoy, are true and honest. This does not mean we are naïve to the threats posed by those who may seek to manipulate matches, or gain advantage through breaching the antidoping rules.”[19]
ITIA Director of Intelligence Nick Iffe stressed that the ITIA wants to make sure that young athletes understand the risks and obligations around betting and corruption. Iffe stated, “In the last few years, we have prioritised delivering education sessions – group and individual, face-to-face and online – to players at the beginning of their journey in the sport. We also talk to coaches, medical staff and agents to ensure that they all know we are there to support them…We also work with the ITF, ATP and WTA on their development programmes so that players making their way through the levels of the sport are given support to help them make the best decisions.”[20]
One cannot be naïve, but one can be hopeful. There is a threat, a constant threat of corruption in sport and sport policy makers have to integrate preventative anti-corruption strategies. The twenty-year sanction given to Quentin Folliot shows the seriousness that tennis is taking toward match-fixing, betting and corruption. Early education efforts by ITIA is another strategy. Time will tell if they are successful.
[1] Jeff Passen, Guardians’ Clase, Ortiz Indicted for Pitch Rigging, ESPN.com (Nov. 9, 2025), https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46906636/guardians-emmanuel-clase-luis-ortiz-indicted-pitch-rigging.
[2] Michael Sisak, Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier Asks Judge to Throw out Betting Charges, KXAN Austin (Dec. 24, 2025), https://www.kxan.com/sports-general/ap-miami-heats-terry-rozier-asks-judge-to-throw-out-betting-charges/.
[3] Emma Smith, Turkish Betting Scandal: “Big Decisions” and “Very Strict” Sanctions Needed, Says Galatasaray Assistant Boss, BBC Sport (Dec. 16, 2025), https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c709nyndrkwo.
[4] ABC News, Brief Explanation of the Tennis Integrity Unit, ABC News (Jan. 19, 2016), https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/explanation-tennis-integrity-unit/story?id=36375005.
[5] Smith Hulsey & Busey, Smith Hulsey & Busey Continues Work for New International Tennis Integrity Association (ITIA), (Feb. 17, 2021), https://www.smithhulsey.com/smith-hulsey-busey-continues-work-for-itia/.
[6] The International Tennis Integrity Agency, ITIA – About, ITIA (Jan. 1, 2025), https://www.itia.tennis/about/.
[7] The International Tennis Integrity Agency, Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, ITIA (Jan. 1, 2025), https://www.itia.tennis/anti-corruption/tacp/.
[8] The International Tennis Integrity Agency, ITIA – TACP, ITIA (Jan. 1, 2025), https://www.itia.tennis/anti-corruption/tacp/.
[9] Le Monde, French tennis player Quentin Folliot receives 20-year ban for match-fixing, Le Monde, Dec. 12, 2025, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/sports/article/2025/12/12/french-tennis-player-quentin-folliot-receives-20-year-ban-for-match-fixing_6748413_9.html.
[10] The International Tennis Integrity Agency, French Tennis Player Quentin Folliot Suspended for 20 Years, ITIA (Dec. 11, 2025), https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/french-tennis-player-quentin-folliot-suspended-for-20-years/.
[11] Amani Khalifa, Decision: In the Matter of a Notice of Offense of Alleged Corruption Offenses under The Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, Quentin Folliot and International Tennis Integrity Agency, (Dec. 3, 2025), https://www.itia.tennis/media/1r4kcbhc/20251210-quentin-folliot-decision_marked_redacted-1.pdf.
[12] Id. ¶4.
[13] Id. ¶257
[14] Id. ¶262
[15] Le Monde, supra note 9.
[16] Khalifa, supra note 11.¶267
[17] The International Tennis Integrity Agency, supra note 10.
[18] The International Tennis Integrity Agency, supra note 6.
[19] Id.
[20] Kieran O’Connor, French Tennis Player given 20‑year Ban for Match‑fixing, (Dec. 11, 2025), https://insidersport.com/2025/12/11/quentin-folliot-banned-tennis-scandal/.
