Yannick Thivant, Thomas Brechemier, Gabriel Petit, Thomas Setodji, and Hugo Daubias have received bans or suspensions from tennis due to corruption offences committed during 2017 or 2018, as announced by the ITIA on Friday. Each case is tied to a prominent match-fixing syndicate overseen by Grigor Sargsyan, who was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in 2023. While Sargsyan's criminal case has concluded, the ITIA is actively pursuing other individuals involved in the syndicate, resulting in a series of sanctions against various players.
Yannick Thivant, 38, faces the most severe penalty with a lifetime ban imposed by the ITIA. Richard McLaren, an anti-corruption hearing officer, noted that Thivant's actions “require the most serious sanctions be imposed.” Thivant, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 590 in September 2015, acknowledged fixing 22 matches, including 16 of his own, which has led to his lifetime ban, a fine of $75,000, and €37,400 in restitution.
Thomas Setodji, 29, received a 10-year suspension and must pay a fine of $20,000 as well as €5,500 in restitution for fixing three matches in 2017 and failing to report a corrupt approach in 2018. His highest career singles ranking was 794 as of July 2024, and he will not be eligible to compete until at least March 31, 2035.
Thomas Brechemier, 28, has been suspended for seven years and six months, effective from February 12, 2023, to August 11, 2032. During the investigation, he admitted to fixing 11 matches during the specified timeframe and received a $40,000 fine, with $27,500 suspended. Brechemier's career-high ranking was 399 in August 2017.
Gabriel Petit, 29, has been suspended for six years and six months and fined $45,000. According to the ITIA, he failed to respond to the charges, resulting in a waiver of his right to a hearing and an acceptance of guilt for fixing seven matches. Petit reached a career-high ranking of 450 in December 2018 and will be ineligible to play until September 2031.
Hugo Daubias, 28, has also been sanctioned with a two-year suspension and a $15,000 fine after admitting to fixing two matches in 2017. His career-high ranking was 972 in September 2017, and he will not be able to compete again until March 2027.
Initially, 16 players faced sanctions due to the match-fixing case, but as the ITIA continues to gather evidence, additional players are being penalized. In February, the ITIA banned six players — Jerome Inzerillo, David Guez, Romain Bauvy, Yannick Jankovits, François-Arthur Vibert, and Agustin Moyano — from competing in the sport.
