Stefan Milanov, a Bulgarian tennis official, has been handed a 16-year ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for his involvement in a series of corruption offenses.
The ban, effective from December 28, 2023, to December 27, 2039, was imposed after Milanov was found guilty of multiple breaches of the ITIA Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).
The ITIA identified five breaches related to Section D.1.b of the 2021 TACP, which deals with facilitating or enabling wagering on the outcome or other aspects of an event. Milanov, in his capacity as an umpire, was found to have directly or indirectly engaged in activities that promoted or supported illicit betting activities.
An additional five breaches were noted under Section D.1.m of the TACP, which pertains to the manipulation or delay of scoring data entry. Milanov was found to have tampered with scoring data from various tennis events, potentially altering the outcome and unfairly influencing the results.
Five breaches were also identified under Section D.1.n of the TACP, which addresses attempts, agreements or conspiracies to commit corruption offenses. Officials said such actions pose a significant threat to the integrity of tennis and must be dealt with firmly to maintain the purity of the sport.
Two of the breaches levied against Milanov relate to Section F.2.b of the 2023 TACP, which emphasizes the importance of full cooperation with ITIA investigations. Milanov’s failure to cooperate fully with the ITIA demonstrates a lack of transparency and accountability, further exacerbating the seriousness of his actions. The ITIA expects all individuals associated with tennis to actively participate in investigations, and any non-compliance will be met with severe consequences.
As a result of Milanov’s non-response to the charges, the ITIA considered his lack of cooperation as an admission of liability for all charges. Consequently, Milanov has been banned from all tennis events authorized or sanctioned by the ITIA for a period of 16 years. The ban not only prevents Milanov from officiating any matches but also serves as a strong deterrent to others considering engaging in corrupt activities within the sport.
In addition to the ban, Milanov was fined $75,000. The ITIA has taken a firm stance on financial penalties to discourage individuals from participating in corruption and to highlight the severe consequences that await those who breach the regulations.
This recent ban is not the first time that Milanov has faced disciplinary action for misconduct. In 2022, he served a six-month suspension after admitting to betting on tennis matches, including one where he was officiating. Section D.1.a of the 2022 TACP explicitly prohibits covered persons from engaging in any form of betting on tennis competitions and events. Milanov’s suspension, which ran from November 15, 2022, to May 14, 2023, also included a fine of $10,000, with $5,000 of the fine suspended.
Milanov’s case is one of many in the ongoing efforts of the ITIA to eradicate corruption from tennis. The organization has recently banned French tennis player Leny Mitjana for 10 years after finding him guilty of corruption and match-fixing offenses. Mitjana, who held a career-high world singles ranking of 458 in 2018, denied all charges. The ITIA’s actions are part of a wider crackdown on corruption in the sport and demonstrate their commitment to preserving the integrity of tennis.
