The integrity of professional sports faced a serious challenge as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) implemented a significant disciplinary action against a Spanish tennis player for extensive breaches of its Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). In a statement that reverberated throughout the tennis community, the ITIA revealed that the player in question, who once peaked at a world singles ranking of 955, engaged in corrupt activities spanning two years, from 2016 to 2018.
The magnitude of the misconduct was striking. The player, who has now been publicly identified as Enrique Cortes, admitted to no less than 35 breaches of the TACP. These violations encompassed a range of prohibited activities including the deliberate fixing of match outcomes, the acceptance of money with the intent to influence match results, and the failure to report corrupt approaches when they occurred. Furthermore, the ITIA’s investigation uncovered that Cortes had placed bets on tennis matches and had even gone so far as to offer monetary incentives to tournament officials in exchange for wild cards.
In dealing with the situation, Cortes cooperated fully with the ITIA’s inquiry. His admission and cooperation might be considered as mitigating factors; however, the severity of the offenses ensured that the penalties would be substantial. Cortes accepted the proposed sanction without appealing to an independent anti-corruption hearing officer, thus waiving his right to a formal hearing. The terms of the disciplinary action are severe: starting from 27 March 2024, Enrique Cortes will be barred from professional tennis for 15 years—an edict that will only be lifted on 26 March 2039. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay a fine of $75,000, though $56,250 of this sum is suspended.
During the lengthy span of his ban, Cortes is prohibited from participating in, coaching, or even attending any events that are authorized or sanctioned by member associations of the ITIA. These broad restrictions underline the seriousness with which the tennis establishment is addressing corruption within the sport.
The case against Cortes is not an isolated incident but rather a part of a systemic crackdown on unethical activity within tennis. Recent weeks have seen the ITIA issue numerous sanctions against individuals involved in corrupt behavior. Notably, these measures are not exclusively targeted at players. For example, Italian official Manuel Guion received a suspension of five years and six months for his violations of the anti-corruption protocols, with his ban set to run until early August 2029. Similarly, Croatian official Marko Stojanovic also faced a suspension of equivalent length after being found culpable of tampering with match data to facilitate betting activities.
The chain of corruptions extends further, with Italian player Andrea Rita being banned for 15 months for betting-related breaches, while France’s Maxence Broville is serving a seven-year ban due to his failure to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation.
Alongside these instances of corruption, the ITIA faces an array of other integrity issues. In a recent development, former player and Peruvian Davis Cup captain Luis Horna was sanctioned for infringing betting sponsorship rules. However, Horna fully cooperated with the investigation and did not contest the charge. In another case, Swedish player Dragos Nicolae Madaras was suspended for four-and-a-half years after neglecting to surrender a personal device for inspection as required by the ITIA.
The sweeping sanctions doled out by the ITIA serve as a clear testament to the organization’s commitment to preserving the integrity of tennis. As the governing body perseveres in its vigilant pursuit of honesty within the sport, these disciplinary actions send a stern warning to all who might contemplate undermining the fair play and ethical standards that underpin professional tennis.
