Younes Rachidi banned for tennis for life

Moroccan former tennis player Younes Rachidi has been banned from tennis for life by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after being found guilty of 135 match fixing offenses. This is now the highest number of offences by one individual ever detected by the ITIA or its predecessor the Tennis Integrity Unit.

Younes Rachidi was involved in match fixing with two Algerian players recently banned by the ITIA with the cases uncovered following law enforcement investigations in conjunction with the ITIA in Belgium.  

Following this decision, Younes Rachidi, who had a highest ATP doubles ranking of 473, is permanently prohibited from playing in, coaching at or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis. The case was ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Office Janie Soublière who found all charges proved, the 135 breaches “egregious” linked to five different clauses of the 207 and 2018 Tennis Anti-Corruption Programmes (TACP) and imposed a fine of $34,000 in addition to the life ban.