The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has found Damjan Dejanovic, a tennis official from Bosnia-Herzegovina, guilty of six corruption offenses.
Dejanovic has been suspended from all tennis activities for four years and fined $5,300. According to the ITIA’s official statement, Dejanovic officiated at a Tennis Federation event with a $15,000 prize pool.
Although Dejanovic admitted to betting on tennis matches, he denied accusations of manipulating match outcomes or falsifying official records for personal gain.
Despite his denials, Dejanovic’s suspension is effective until January 7, 2028. The suspension began on January 8 while the investigation was ongoing, and time served since early 2024 counts towards his penalty.
The rise of sports gambling has led to increased scrutiny of tennis officials, with international stakeholders and integrity watchdogs collaborating to address corruption.
The ITIA has been particularly effective in detecting and acting against corruption in the sport. Last year, the agency banned French tennis player Alexis Musialek for life due to 39 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.
In November, the ITIA also sanctioned three Nigerian tennis players for various sports betting-related offenses, including participation in a match-fixing syndicate based in Belgium. These players received suspensions ranging from several months to years, along with financial penalties.
Corruption remains a significant issue in tennis. The International Betting Integrity Association has repeatedly identified tennis as a sport highly susceptible to corruption, often highlighting it as a major driver of suspicious betting events.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many tennis players are not well-compensated, making them more vulnerable to manipulation.
