Slovenian tennis official Marko Ducman has been handed a suspension from the sport for ten years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
According to the case, Ducman has admitted to having participated in four breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), including engaging in tennis match wagering and match data manipulation to achieve betting outcomes in his favour.
The ITIA further said: “The official has been provisionally suspended since 8 September 2023, and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against Ducman’s period of ineligibility. As such, their suspension will end on 7 March 2034.”
A financial penalty of $75,000 was also imposed on Ducman, with $56,250 suspended if the official does not participate or attend any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by any of the ITIA members, including the ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open.
Meanwhile, the ITIA has noted that Ducman has cooperated with the investigation and has himself accepted the punishment, forgoing the option of a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer.
Ducman had previously officiated events at ITF, ATP and WTA tournaments, being both an international level and bronze-badge official.
In a similar case back in May, Bolivian chair umpire Heriberto Morales Churata was given a six-year ban from tennis for manipulating scores at ITF World Tennis Tour events by knowingly inputting false digits into his handheld device between 2021 and 2022.
