Croatian tennis official Marko Stojanovic has been suspended from the sport for a duration of five years and six months, according to a recent announcement made by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Since Stojanovic acknowledged breaking the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) many times, this action has been taken in response.
Stojanovic, operating at the national level, confessed to 15 violations of the TACP, which included manipulating match data to facilitate betting activities. Despite their accreditation and past officiating roles at ITF tournaments, Stojanovic cooperated fully with the ITIA’s investigation and accepted the imposed penalty. As part of the agreement, Stojanovic waived the right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer. Moreover, the official has been fined $25,000, with a significant portion suspended.
The suspension will remain in place until August 18, 2029, with effect from February 19, 2024. Stojanovic is not permitted to officiate or attend any tennis tournament during this time that is approved or sanctioned by ITIA members, such as the ATP, ITF, WTA, and others. This strict approach is a reflection of the ITIA’s dedication to maintaining the integrity of professional tennis across the world.
The ITIA is an autonomous body that was founded by several tennis governing organizations with the purpose of promoting and preserving the sport’s integrity. The ITIA strives to uphold the fairness and openness that are essential to the tennis game via actions like this suspension.