Bosnian official suspended over corrupt wildcard approach

Bosnian tennis coach Robert Biletic has been issued a six-month suspension from the sport relating to corruption charges.

Biletic has been found guilty in a case where he stood accused of approaching a player to offer a wildcard to a tournament at which he was acting as a director in exchange for payment.

In contravention of section D.1.k of the 2021 TACP, which states: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, offer, pay or accept any money, benefit or Consideration for the provision of a wildcard to an Event,” Biletic is said to have made the corrupt approach while serving as tournament director at an ITF 25k event in 2021.

Biletic has been provisionally suspended since 15 March 2023 but the player in question reportedly declined the offer and made an immediate report of the approach to the ITIA in accordance with their official advice to players.

“The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Bosnian tennis coach Robert Biletic has been issued a six-month suspension from the sport after accepting a charge under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP),” a statement from the ITIA reads

“Biletic served as tournament director at an ITF 25k event in 2021, and contacted a player to offer a wildcard into the event in exchange for payment, in contravention of section D.1.k of the 2021 TACP.

“This offer was declined by the player and immediately reported to the ITIA, triggering an investigation. Biletic has been provisionally suspended since 15 March 2023.

“The case was ruled on by Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Diana Tesic, who determined that a six-month suspension from the sport and a $1,000 fine was appropriate. The sanction has been backdated to the start of Biletic’s provisional suspension, which means that they are prohibited from playing in or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis between 15 March 2023 and 14 September 2023.

“The ITIA is an independent body established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.”

The ITIA have well-publicised codes of conduct for players, officials, agents and other covered persons that relate to all sorts of behaviours and activities.

When it comes to tournament officials the offences are divided under various subsections but broadly cover betting, which is strictly prohibited for all tournament staff as is the promotion of any gambling on tennis, match-fixing, inside information and corruption regarding wildcards.

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