Russia's Dmitrieva and Merdeeva suspended for life for match-fixing

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed today that two Russian tennis players Sofia Dmitrieva and Alija Merdeeva have been banned from the sport for life, following an investigation for match-fixing.

Both players, doubles partners in two of the investigated matches, “are permanently prohibited from playing or attending any authorized tennis event. or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis, “the ITIA reported in a statement.

Merdeeva, who was ranked 928 as his best individual classification and 644 in the doubles classification, was involved in two match-fixing incidents. For her part, Dmitrieva, which reached the 1191 and 939 positions in the WTA singles and doubles rankings, she was involved in six match-fixing incidents and was also accused of not cooperating with the investigation.

Both have been sanctioned for violating the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.

The International Agency for Tennis Integrity is an independent body established by the bodies that govern the discipline to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis around the world.