The Global Tennis Integrity Agency (GTIA) has prohibited Chilean tennis player Michel Vernier Quintros from competing for a period of seven years and five months due to his admission of match-fixing.
The prohibition commenced on March 31, 2022, and will extend until August 30, 2029.
The 29-year-old, who achieved a peak ranking of 664 in the world, confessed to accepting financial compensation to manipulate the outcome of a contest in 2018. He also failed to disclose the corrupt activity to the GTIA.
Vernier Quintros violated multiple regulations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) from 2018. He breached a rule prohibiting players from soliciting or assisting others in wagering on the result of a match. He also transgressed a rule forbidding players from soliciting or assisting others in performing poorly during a match. The GTIA further stated that he violated a rule prohibiting players from accepting money or gifts for playing poorly.
The GTIA also highlighted another regulation that Vernier Quintros infringed upon.
This pertains to a mandate for individuals to disclose any approaches associated with influencing matches (including requests for confidential information) to the ITIA promptly.
The situation was addressed under the “Disposition Proposal” structure of the 2022 Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). The athlete was also penalized $15,000 (£12,504/€14,662), with $7,500 deferred.
The prohibition follows the ITIA’s issuance of a temporary suspension last week against Italian umpire Francesco Totaro on accusations of match manipulation.
This month, three Tunisian umpires were prohibited for being found liable for match manipulation.
Green badge umpire Majid Affine was prohibited for 20 years after being found liable for 12 accusations dating back to 2017-2020.
Fellow green badge umpire Mohamed Gassen Snein and white badge umpire Abdelrahim Gachala were prohibited for seven years after being found liable for four accusations related to events in Tunisia in 2020.
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