Online Gambling Scandals Cause Tennis Officials to Tighten Rules

Many players said they had heard or had information leading them to believe players were often approached to throw matches.

The Association of Tennis Professionals is determined to remove the stink of scandal from its sport after a series of online gambling debacles involving questionable matches, and one step will be the formation of an agency investigating corruption and enforcing strict new rules to curb match fixing.

In an announcement planned for the first day of the Wimbledon Championships, a plan to crack down on illegal betting and thrown matches will be revealed. Among the new measures will be bans against players involved for anywhere from three years to lifetime, and fines exceeding $50,000.

A powerful commissioner's position is expected to be created, and players will be required to reveal any attempts or invitations to fix matches within 48 hours, or face harsh consequences.

Players, trainers, coaches, and all family members will be barred from any form of tennis wagering.

Security at tennis sites and in locker rooms will be increased, access to players will be limited and controlled by security personnel, and match information including medical and personal details will be tightly guarded until released to the general public.

The International Tennis Federation, the Women's Tennis Association and the Grand Slam Committee are expected to unify behind the new rules, allowing a standardization of effort and enforcement to prevent future problems.

Online bookmakers discovered highly unusual betting patterns in several matches last year, and turned their data over to tennis authorities. The concern raised was enough to generate an investigation by two ex-Scotland Yard detectives, which in turn uncovered troubling information.

Many players said they had heard or had information leading them to believe players were often approached to throw matches. More than 45 matches in the last few years have been identified as suspicious, including eight Wimbledon matches, four from the men's singles of 2007. Many of the players involved in suspect matches are international stars.

Tennis is to be lauded in its determination to keep its game clean, and rid itself of shady influences. It is to be remembered that online gambling operators were the ones to initially uncover the problem, and it is with their help and cooperation that this effort has the best chance of success.