Serbian professional tennis player Stefan Milicevic has been handed a 24‑year suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA), one of the harshest penalties ever imposed outside a lifetime ban. The 29‑year‑old, whose highest world ranking was 1,338th in 2014, is prohibited from playing, coaching or attending any event sanctioned by World Tennis, the WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams or any national association until October 2050, when he will be 53.
Milicevic was charged with fixing six matches, five of which he contested, and with attempting to fix another six matches between 2022 and 2024. He was also accused of recruiting or attempting to recruit other professional players into a corrupt network, with those recruits alleged to have participated in match‑fixing as well. The severity of the sanction was partly attributed to his lack of cooperation; the ITIA noted that he did not engage in the investigation despite seven separate attempts to contact him.
In addition to the ban, Milicevic faces a £53,000 fine. The ITIA’s decision follows a similar 20‑year ban imposed on French player Quentin Folliot earlier this year, who was found to be a key figure in a match‑fixing syndicate. Folliot, whose highest ranking was 488th in 2022, denied the charges but 27 of 30 accusations were upheld at a hearing.
The ITIA’s actions underscore its ongoing crackdown on corruption within professional tennis, targeting both individual players and the networks that facilitate match‑fixing. The case serves as a warning to players worldwide that non‑cooperation and involvement in illicit schemes can lead to long‑term career devastation.
