The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has imposed a significant penalty on Serbian tennis player Stefan Milićević, announcing a 24-year ban and a $70,000 fine due to various breaches of tennis’ anti-corruption rules. The decision, made public on Friday, comes after Milićević, 29, was found guilty of fixing six matches between 2022 and 2024, with five of those matches in which he participated directly.
Additionally, Milićević attempted to manipulate another six matches within the same timeframe. The ITIA's investigation revealed that he not only engaged in match-fixing but also sought to recruit other professional players into a corrupt network related to these activities.
Despite extensive efforts by ITIA officials, including seven attempts to contact him through various means, Milićević did not cooperate at any point during the investigation. On September 24, 2026, the agency issued a Notice of Major Offence, which Milićević also did not respond to. As a result, the ITIA utilized its deemed-sanction procedure, which led to the imposition of the lengthy ban and financial penalty.
Milićević's ban became effective on October 9, 2026, and will last until October 8, 2050, when he will be 53 years old. During the duration of the ban, he is prohibited from playing, coaching, or attending any events sanctioned by organizations such as the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the four Grand Slam tournaments, or any national tennis associations.
The ITIA is actively pursuing match-fixing cases, with this ban being one of several recent sanctions. In a notable case last year, the agency issued five bans or suspensions linked to corruption in Belgium, including a lifetime ban for Yannick Thivant, who was also fined $75,000.
