Chinese tennis player Pang Renlong Photo: Xinhua

Chinese tennis player Pang Renlong Photo: Xinhua

Chinese tennis player Pang Renlong has been handed a 12-year ban and fined $110,000, with $70,000 suspended for fixing or attempting to fix matches, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed on Saturday (Beijing time).

On Saturday night, the Chinese Tennis Association issued a statement on its official website, declaring: “As the national governing body for the sport, the Chinese Tennis Association firmly opposes any conduct that undermines integrity or fair competition. Based on the facts of the athlete’s violations, we will impose further disciplinary actions in accordance with national laws, regulations, and governing rules.”

The association emphasized in its statement that it will lead the tennis sector in strengthening awareness, raising understanding the harms caused by violations of professional ethics, and establishing clearer disciplinary mechanisms and a blacklist system to deter and penalize misconduct. It will also collaborate with public security and other authorities to sever illegal interests and networks.

According to the ITIA report, the 25-year-old Pang admitted to fixing five of his own singles matches at ITF World Tennis Tour M15, M25, and ATP Challenger 50 tournaments, in addition to making 17 corrupt approaches to other professional players, resulting in six additional matches being fixed.

Pang, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1,316 in November 2024, accepted an agreed sanction with the ITIA and waived his right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Office. His suspension begins on November 7, 2024, and will run until November 6, 2036, the report said.

During the period of ineligibility, Pang is prohibited from playing in, coaching at or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA or any national (regional) tennis associations.

The ITIA is an independent body established in 2021 by the ATP, ITF, WTA and the Grand Slams to promote the integrity of their professional tennis events worldwide, according to the introduction on its official website. 

Global Times