Slovakian Tennis Player Banned for Three Years for Match Manipulation

Barbora Palcatova, a Slovakian tennis competitor, has been prohibited from playing for three years, with 15 months suspended, by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for her role in match manipulation. This makes her the tenth athlete to be banned by the ITIA this year.

Palcatova was found guilty of violating the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), which prohibits any individual from influencing or attempting to influence the result of any tennis match.

The penalty means she is not allowed to participate in or attend any tennis events authorized by tennis governing bodies, including the WTA and ITF.

Palcatova’s current International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles ranking is 1685, and her doubles ranking is 1046.

In addition to the three-year suspension, she was also fined $5,000, with $3,500 of that suspended.

Palcatova’s case is the most recent in a series of penalties against tennis players found to have violated the TACP since 2021.

At the beginning of the year, three athletes from Egypt, Slovakia, and Uzbekistan were prohibited from competing due to infractions linked to wagering on sports and altering the outcome of matches.

Subsequently, two Russian athletes were disqualified for manipulating match results, including their collusion in doubles competitions.

Another Russian athlete, Nikita Gudoshnikov, was later barred for 30 months for declining to cooperate with an integrity inquiry.

In March, Nigerian athletes Abiodun Oyewo and Bukola Popoola were permanently banned after being found guilty of manipulating match results.

Last week, Venezuelan athlete Roberto Maytin was prohibited from competing for 14 years by the ITIA for numerous violations of TACP regulations.

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