Quentin Folliot, a 26-year-old French tennis player, has been issued a 20-year suspension and fined $70,000 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) due to his involvement in match-fixing. He also faces a repayment of over $44,000 for illicit payments, having committed 27 violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
The ITIA’s investigation found Folliot to be a key player in a network associated with a match-fixing syndicate. He was implicated in various corrupt activities, including manipulating match outcomes, accepting money to underperform, bribing other players, providing insider information, conspiring to corrupt, and failing to cooperate with the investigation, which included destroying evidence.
Despite reaching a career-high singles ranking of 488 in August 2022, Folliot denied 30 charges linked to 11 matches played between 2022 and 2024, with eight that he participated in. Following a remote hearing in October, independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Amani Khalifa upheld 27 of those charges, while three charges related to doubles matches were dismissed.
The ITIA described Folliot’s actions as particularly egregious, noting factors such as his lack of cooperation during the investigation. His suspension is set to end in May 2044. Throughout this period, he is banned from playing, coaching, or participating in any capacity within the sport or any national tennis association.
This case illustrates the ITIA’s commitment to upholding the integrity of professional tennis and holding individuals accountable for corrupt practices, ensuring a fair environment for players and fans alike.
Leave a comment