Italian tennis official Lorenzo Chiurazi has been suspended for seven and a half years for match-fixing infractions. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
quick judgment
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has banned Italian national tennis chief and direct referee Lorenzo Chiurazi for seven and a half years for match-fixing.
$50,000 fine, of which $33,500 has been suspended
A statement on Friday confirmed Chiurazi’s suspension, as well as a $50,000 fine, of which $33,500 had been suspended. The case was settled under ITIA’s “proposal to act”, which allows the body to impose a penalty without a hearing.
The ban runs from the date the charges were imposed, August 12, 2022, until February 11, 2030.
Rule Violations
Chiurazi’s misconduct came during a 2021 game in a tournament in Perugia, Italy. The match official committed a series of infractions, including delaying score entry, intentionally uploading the wrong score, failing to participate in an investigation and reporting corruption.
Chiurazzi has been found guilty of several counts of violating Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP)listed below:
- Section D.1.b which lists gambling offenses that can lead to punishment.
- Section D.1.m, which addresses how to enter scores in a timely and without manipulation.
- Section (d1d) which prevents fabrication of an event.
- Section D.2.B, which authorizes any official who has attempted to be affected by an unauthorized party to report the incident.
- section and. 2b, which states that all officials must cooperate with investigations.
Shirazi admitted the charges against him and prevented him after that.
Increasing problem of match-fixing
Chiurazzi will not participate in any nationally or internationally organized tennis events until he is suspended.
He is also investigating fellow Italian referee Francesco Totaro, accused of match-fixing
Meanwhile, ITIA also investigated fellow Italian governor Francesco Totaro, who was accused of match-fixing in July. Moreover, three Tunisian officials were suspended on suspicion of match-fixing in the same week as Totaro.
ITIA hopes the rigorous scrutiny will provide a safer space for the sport.
“The ITIA is an independent body established by the international governing bodies of tennis to promote, encourage, promote and protect the integrity of professional tennis around the world,” a statement read after Totaro’s comment.
