ITIA Gives Career-Ending Ban to Tennis Player Accused of Match-Fixing

Summary

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has handed French player Quentin Folliot a 20-year suspension, a $70,000 fine and an order to repay more than $44,000 after finding he was involved in match-fixing. The 26-year-old, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 488 in August 2022, was found to have committed 27 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) related to matches played between 2022 and 2024. An independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer, Amani Khalifa, upheld most charges after a remote hearing in October 2025 and issued a written decision on 1 December 2025.

The ITIA described Folliot as acting as a conduit for a larger criminal syndicate, recruiting other players and obstructing the investigation. The suspension — which runs until 16 May 2044 and already counts time served under provisional suspension — bars him from playing, coaching or attending any event authorised by ITIA members, including the ATP, WTA, ITF and national associations.

Key Points

Quentin Folliot (France), aged 26, received a 20-year ban from tennis, one of the longest ITIA suspensions.
The player was fined $70,000 and ordered to repay over $44,000 in corrupt payments.
ITIA found Folliot guilty of 27 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program across 10 of 11 investigated matches from 2022–2024.
Folliot denied all 30 charges; three charges related to a January 2024 doubles match were dismissed.
A remote hearing took place on 20–21 October 2025 before Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Amani Khalifa; written decision dated 1 December 2025.
Aggravating factors included Folliot recruiting other players and deliberately obstructing the ITIA investigation.
The ban lasts until 16 May 2044; provisional suspension time counts toward the ineligibility period.
While banned, Folliot cannot play, coach or attend events sanctioned by ITIA members (ATP, WTA, ITF, Tennis Australia, FFT, Wimbledon, USTA, and national associations).

Context and Relevance

This ruling is significant for integrity in professional tennis: long bans and heavy fines signal tougher enforcement against match-fixing and organised syndicates. The case highlights how regulators are targeting not only isolated incidents but also networks that recruit players and spread corruption across tours. It also underscores growing collaboration between integrity units and the legal scrutiny of sports corruption worldwide — at odds with recent large-scale betting-related investigations in other sports and jurisdictions.

Why should I read this?

Because this isn’t just another suspension — it’s huge. Twenty years and a big fine mean the ITIA is taking an increasingly hard line on match-fixing. If you follow tennis, sports betting, regulatory trends or integrity work, the details here explain how enforcement is evolving and what it could mean for players and competitions going forward.

Author note

Punchy: This is a hard-hitting decision from the ITIA. The sanctions are severe, the investigator called out recruitment and obstruction, and the message is clear — cross the line and you can be wiped off the sport for decades.