The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Friday a 24-year ban for Serbian tennis player Stefan Milićević, accompanied by a $70,000 fine, due to multiple breaches of anti-corruption regulations in tennis.
At 29 years old, Milićević's highest ATP singles ranking was 1,338 in August 2014. He was found guilty of fixing six matches from 2022 to 2024, including five that he played in, and attempting to fix another six during the same period.
The ITIA reported that Milićević not only engaged in match-fixing but also tried to recruit other professional players into a corrupt scheme, targeting an unspecified number of individuals.
An extensive investigation lasting until 2026 revealed that Milićević did not cooperate, despite ITIA officials making seven attempts to reach him through various channels. After concluding the investigation, the ITIA issued a Notice of Major Offence to Milićević on 24 September 2026, to which he also did not respond. Consequently, the ITIA invoked a deemed-sanction procedure, resulting in the lengthy ban and financial penalty.
Effective from 9 October 2026, Milićević's ban will last until 8 October 2050, leaving him at 53 years of age upon its conclusion. The terms prohibit him from playing, coaching, or attending any tennis events organized or sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Grand Slam tournaments, or any national tennis associations.
The ITIA remains committed to combating match-fixing, having imposed multiple bans recently, including five suspensions linked to a Belgian corruption case last year. Among those sanctioned was Yannick Thivant, who received a lifetime ban alongside a $75,000 fine.
