Bulgarian Tennis Player Pavel Atanasov Receives Lifetime Ban

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued a lifetime ban to Bulgarian tennis player Pavel Atanasov for multiple violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). Atanasov, facing charges at the national level, initially contested the accusations but later withdrew his appeal before the Independent Hearing Officer.

According to the ITIA, Atanasov admitted to a range of violations spanning from 2019 to 2023. These violations included manipulating match results data for betting purposes, facilitating betting activities, and participating in a corrupt conspiracy to bet on tennis matches. Consequently, Atanasov has been permanently banned from refereeing or attending any tennis events sanctioned by the ITIA, as well as any national tournaments.

In addition to the lifetime ban, Atanasov has been fined $10,000 by the integrity agency. This decisive action underscores the ITIA's commitment to upholding the integrity of tennis and combating corruption within the sport.