Serb player banned until 2050 for tennis match-fixing

Stefan Milicevic is given a 24-year suspension from tennis – one of the most severe punishments outside of a lifetime ban – for match-fixing. Stefan Milicevic played in 22 professional tournaments on the lower-tier ITF Tour between 2013 and 2023 A player from Serbia has been given a 24-year suspension from tennis – one of the most severe punishments imposed by anti-corruption investigators outside of a lifetime ban – for match-fixing. Stefan Milicevic, who reached a career-high world ranking of 1,338th in 2014, was charged with fixing six matches, including five in which he was competing. The 29-year-old, who played on the lower rungs of the professional ladder, was also charged with attempting to fix a further six matches between 2022 and 2024.

Along with the match-fixing, the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) said Milicevic was also charged with recruiting or attempting to recruit multiple professional players "as part of a corrupt network". Players who were recruited by Milicevic have also been accused by the ITIA of fixing matches. The severity of Milicevic's sanction is partly down to a lack of co-operation in the investigation. The ITIA said he "did not engage" in the process despite seven separate attempts from the independent organisation to contact him. Milicevic, who also received a £53,000 fine, cannot take part in the sport until