Court of Arbitration for Sport Extends Bensoussan Ban
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has extended the ban of French tennis player Samuel Bensoussan to 2030.
Originally suspended for one year and 11 months in June 2023 for fixing four matches, the 34-year-old now faces a significantly longer period of exclusion from the sport. The extended ban prohibits Bensoussan from competing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event sanctioned by the ATP, WTA, Grand Slams, or World Tennis.
A Penalty Deemed Insufficient
Bensoussan, who achieved a career-high ranking of 405 in 2018, initially challenged his suspension before the CAS. The court not only dismissed his appeal but determined that the original penalty was insufficient given the nature of his infractions. According to the ITIA, the CAS panel ruled that the sanction should be increased to align with penalties issued in similar corruption cases.
Links to a Belgian Criminal Syndicate
The investigation that led to his initial suspension also identified his involvement in a criminal case linked to a match-fixing syndicate based in Belgium.
The CAS noted that this specific criminal network had successfully corrupted at least 181 players worldwide, resulting in the manipulation of a minimum of 375 professional tennis matches. Bensoussan was one of four players sanctioned in the same 2023 disciplinary sweep, which also included Natthasith Kunsuwan, Jaimee Floyd Angele, and Christian Lindell.
Finalizing the Legal Consequences
Bensoussan has not competed professionally since 2019. In addition to the extended suspension, he remains liable for the $12,000 fine originally imposed by the independent anti-corruption hearing officer. By upholding the ITIA’s charges, the CAS has effectively finalized the legal consequences for the French player’s role in the organized manipulation of tennis outcomes.
Ongoing Surveillance of Systemic Corruption
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