Former player found guilty of a record-breaking 135 counts of match-fixing

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Former ATP Tour professional Younes Rachidi of Morocco has been handed a lifetime ban after an investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Rachidi was found guilty of 135 counts of match-fixing setting a new record for the most charges racked up by an individual since tennis introduced ethical oversight.

The 36-year-old Moroccan hasn’t played a match on the ATP Tour since 2017 and achieved a ranking high of 473 in the doubles which was his preferred discipline.

An ITIA sanction notice declared: “The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has today confirmed that Younes Rachidi, a Moroccan former tennis player, has been banned from the sport for life after being found guilty of 135 match-fixing offences. This is now the highest number of offences by one individual ever detected by the ITIA or its predecessor the Tennis Integrity Unit.

“The sanction means that Rachidi, who had sported a highest ATP doubles ranking of 473, is permanently prohibited from playing in, coaching at or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis.

“The case was ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Office Janie Soublière who found all charges proved, the 135 breaches “egregious” and imposed a fine of $34,000 in addition to the life ban.

“Rachidi was involved in match fixing with two Algerian players recently banned by the ITIA with the cases uncovered following law enforcement investigations in conjunction with the ITIA in Belgium.

“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.”

Rachidi was found guilty of 135 offences and linked to the following clauses of the 2017 and 2018 Tennis Anti-Corruption Programmes (TACP):

D.1.d: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.

D.1.e: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or facilitate any Player to not use his or her best efforts in any Event.

D.1.f: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or accept any money, benefit or Consideration with the intention of negatively influencing a Player’s best efforts in any Event.

D.1.g: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, offer or provide any money, benefit or Consideration to any other Covered Person with the intention of negatively influencing a Player’s best efforts in any Event.

D.2.a.i: In the event any Player is approached by any person who offers or provides any type of money, benefit or Consideration to a Player to (i) influence the outcome or any other aspect of any Event, or (ii) provide Inside Information, it shall be the Player’s obligation to report such incident to the TIU [Now ITIA] as soon as possible.

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Younes Rachidi

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