LONDON — In a stunning development, three Nigerian tennis players, all ranked outside the top 1,000, have come under fire for their connection to a notorious match-fixing operation based in Belgium. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced their suspensions and a hefty fine of $10,000 each on Friday.
Henry Atseye, aged 35, has confessed to breaching anti-corruption regulations six times between 2017 and 2018. His violations include orchestrating match outcomes and facilitating wagering on multiple occasions. As a result, he faces a suspension of 2.5 years along with his financial penalty, according to the ITIA.
Meanwhile, Sylvester Emmanuel, 26, and Christian Paul, 29, chose not to contest the accusations against them. Their silence has effectively indicated their acceptance of the charges, resulting in them being held accountable for six infractions during the same period as Atseye. These include facilitating wagers, manipulating match outcomes, receiving illicit funds, and failing to report corrupt approaches.
Both Emmanuel and Paul have received a three-year suspension, in addition to their respective fines.
This trio now joins a growing list of over 20 individuals who have faced similar penalties due to their ties with a syndicate led by Grigor Sargsyan, who has already been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in these corrupt activities.
