Serbian tennis player banned for 24 years for match-fixing

Serbian tennis star Stefan Milicevic has been handed an unprecedented 24-year ban for match-fixing and involvement in a corrupt network, according to anti-corruption authorities. This is one of the most severe punishments ever levied, just shy of a lifetime ban, with Milicevic barred from any tennis-related activity until October 2050.

The 29-year-old, who peaked at a world ranking of 1,338 in 2014, played only in the lower levels of professional tennis. He was accused of fixing six matches - including five he participated in - and attempting to fix another six. The International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) revealed that Milicevic also allegedly recruited or attempted to recruit multiple professional players into the corrupt network.

Despite seven attempts by the ITIA to engage with Milicevic during the investigation, he remained uncooperative. As a result, the player has been hit with a £53,000 fine and is banned from any official tennis involvement, including playing, coaching, or attending sanctioned events, until his 53rd birthday in 2050. Milicevic's ban comes as another lower-tier player faces a heavy penalty for match-fixing.

Frenchman Quentin Folliot received a 20-year ban last December for 27 violations of the tennis anti-corruption protocol, while China's Pang Renlong was sanctioned for 12 years in the same month.