London – The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued one of its harshest sanctions to date, banning French tennis player Quentin Folliot for 20 years and imposing financial penalties totaling more than $114,000.
Folliot, who achieved a career-high singles ranking of 488 in August 2022, was found guilty of extensive match-fixing violations. In addition to a $70,000 fine, he has been ordered to repay $44,000 in corrupt payments. His suspension runs until 16 May 2044, effectively ending his professional career.
Findings of the Investigation
An ITIA probe identified the 26-year-old as a central figure in a match-fixing syndicate, recruiting other players and obstructing investigators. Folliot denied all 30 charges tied to 11 matches between 2022 and 2024, but independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Amani Khalifa upheld 27 of them following a remote hearing in October 2025.
Three charges linked to a January 2024 doubles match — including providing inside information and failing to report a corrupt approach — were dismissed. Still, Khalifa’s written decision described Folliot as a “conduit for a broader criminal syndicate” who sought to entrench corruption within the professional tours.
Scope of the Ban
During his suspension, Folliot is prohibited from playing, coaching, or attending any tennis event sanctioned by ITIA members, including the ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon, and the USTA. His provisional suspension time will count toward the 20-year ban.
The ITIA emphasized that the severity of the sanction reflects both the scale of Folliot’s misconduct and his deliberate obstruction of the investigation.
Wider Context
The case has sent shockwaves through tennis, underscoring the sport’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption. Yet, it pales in comparison to the scale of match-fixing scandals currently engulfing Turkish soccer, where authorities last week ordered the arrest of top-tier players in an insider betting probe. That investigation reportedly involves thousands of professionals across Turkey’s soccer ecosystem, from players and coaches to commentators.
