Tennis umpire hit with 12-year ban after anti-corruption investigation concludes

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended Bolivian tennis umpire Percy Flores from the game for 12 years. An investigation by the ITIA has revealed that Flores dedicated 31 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) between November 2021 and October 2022. 

As a consequence, she has been slapped with a £11,792 ($15,000) advantageous and a prolonged ban from officiating. Flores was discovered responsible of manipulating scores for betting functions, purposely getting into the improper scores and soliciting one other official to interact in corrupt conduct.

An announcement from the ITIA learn: “The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Bolivian tennis official Percy Flores has been suspended from the sport for 12 years and issued a $15,000 fine for multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

“Flores, a white badge umpire who didn’t contest the ITIA’s prices, was discovered to have dedicated 31 breaches of the TACP between November 2021 and October 2022. 

“The breaches included routine manipulation of scores for betting purposes – by purposely entering the wrong score into the umpire’s handheld device – at ITF World Tennis Tour events and soliciting another official to engage in corrupt conduct.

“Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Professor Richard McLaren decided that Flores’ breaches of the TACP merited a sanction of 15 years in accordance with sanctioning pointers, however utilized a discount of three years’ suspension attributable to mitigating circumstances – together with the umpire’s early admission of the fees and normal good conduct through the investigative course of.

“The suspension was backdated to the start of Flores’ provisional suspension on 8 December 2022 and will end on 7 December 2034. During this time Flores is prohibited from officiating at or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis.

“The ITIA is an unbiased physique established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to advertise, encourage, improve and safeguard the integrity {of professional} tennis worldwide.”