Calls for inquiry into tennis match-fix allegations

THE International Tennis Federation is facing calls for an immediate probe into the match-fixing allegations engulfing top-level tennis.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said he was concerned at allegations that the sport’s authorities have consistently failed to act on concerns surrounding a core group of 16 players, including grand slam champions.

According to the BBC and BuzzFeed, secret files exposed evidence of widespread suspected match-fixing at leading games.

It said that 16 players who have ranked in the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) over suspicions they have thrown matches. It alleged that the players, including winners of Grand Slam titles, were allowed to continue competing.

They claimed that in 2007, tennis authorities were presented with an examination of 26,000 matches, three of them at Wimbledon, which contained enough evidence to root out offenders – but no action was taken.

Mr Whittingdale said: “It is deeply concerning that yet another sport is facing serious allegations of match fixing.

“Once again it has been British investigative journalism that has brought this to light, and has raised serious questions about how this was allowed to go on – and it would seem, deliberately covered up for so long.

“This reinforces the need for a global anti-corruption initiative and demonstrates why the Prime Minister is absolutely right to put this at the top of his agenda. He will be hosting an anti-corruption summit later this year and tackling corruption in sport will play a big part in that.”