Australian tennis player Nick Lindahl banned for seven years for corruption
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Former Australian tennis player Nick Lindahl has been handed over a 7-year ban, along with a $35,000 fine, after being found guilty of attempting to fix matches.TIU, the sport's regulatory body, has stepped up its efforts to curb match-fixing ahead of the Australian Open later this month.
"Although Mr. Lindahl, 28, retired from the sport in 2013, today’s decision prevents him from resuming playing professional tennis for the seven years of the ban.
"He is also prohibited from attending any tournament or event
Back in December 2014, Lindahl's friend Matthew Fox was convicted of using 'improper information' to bet on matches. Fox alleged that Lindahl told him that he would throw a match in Toowoomba in September 2013.
It was also alleged that Lindahl asked Adam Feeney to lose in the first round of the Traralgon Challenger.
The Sweden-born tennis player had reached his career-high ranking of 187 back in 2010 and had participated in both the Australian Open and the US Open. Lindahl retired from the sport shortly after the incident.
The ban placed on him by the TIU is related to the case where he offered to throw a match at a Futures tournament in Australia in 2013, and his subsequent refusal to provide his mobile phone for forensic investigations on the TIU's request.
Along with Lindahl, Brandon
If it's happening, there should be the most severe punishments for whoever is involved in it.
Murray
Recently, Oliver Anderson, an 18-year-old upcoming talent who is the reigning Australian Open boys champion, was also in the news after he was reportedly approached to drop a set. Reacting to the news, World no.1 Andy Murray said, "If it's happening, there should be the most severe punishments for whoever is involved in it.”
Tennis authorities have stepped up their fight against corruption and match-fixing that is spreading across the sport. Last month, 34 people, which included a lot of low-ranked players, were arrested by the Spanish police as part of a network that fixed matches in Spain and Portugal. The move comes on the back of multiple match-fixing allegations during last year's Australian Open.
