Italian Female Player Found Guilty Of Attempted Match Fixing

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 19th September 2013

Italian Female Player Found Guilty Of Attempted Match Fixing

epa03420613 Maria Sharapova of Russia serves against opponent Polona Hercog of Slovenia during their third round match at the China Open in Beijing, China, 04 October 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

The Tennis Integrity Unit has a history of snaring Italian male players who have been guilty of breaking the sport’s anti-corruption code but now a woman has been found guilty on two charges of attempted match-fixing and 18 year-old Claudia Coppola, who this week attained a career high ranking of world no. 869, has been banned for six months.

Coppola, who has been restricted to contesting International Tennis Federation events with a maximum prize money of $50,000 since moving off the junior circuit, admitted breaking the rules against fixing the outcome of a match and soliciting a player not to give his or her best effort.

This year Coppola has earned just $4,200 and her career prize haul stands at just $8,301.

She admitted contravening Articles D.1.d and D.1.e of the Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, namely:

• Article D.1.d – No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event

• Article D.1.e – No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or facilitate any Player to not use his or her best efforts in any Event

Following the guilty verdict, the suspension applies with immediate effect and means that the player is not eligible to participate in any tournament or competition organized or authorized by the governing bodies of professional tennis.

The case against her was based on the findings of a Tennis Integrity Unit Investigation, which was then considered by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer, Richard H. McLaren.

Consistent with the confidentiality of the TIU’s anti-corruption disciplinary process, no further details of the case will be made public.

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