“The Independent Review Panel will review and report on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program and make recommendations for change”, a statement from the governing bodies read.
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In an announcement at the Australian Open, the ATP, WTA, ITF and the heads of all four Grand Slams said the review was aimed at shaking up tennis’s under-fire anti-corruption body, and called for governments worldwide to make match-fixing a criminal offence.
Chris Kermode, the executive chairman and president of the Association of Tennis Professionals, agreed that it had been important to react quickly to what he described as “very, very serious allegations”.
“Speaking as the current chairman of the Tennis Integrity Board, I was disappointed in the programme”, Brook said.
Tennis authorities on Wednesday announced an independent review into their fight against corruption after a bombshell report alleging widespread match-fixing cast a shadow over the sport at the ongoing Australian Open.
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“I think it’s one of the things we would expect the review to take a good look at”.
He continued: “This will be an open review”.
ATP Chairman Chris Kermode said immediate action was needed to “restore public confidence in our sport”.
“The panel has been asked to look into how the TIU can become more transparent without compromising the need for confidentiality”.
The officials appeared to downplay the reports emerging in media about specific players allegedly linked to match-fixing, saying the allegations were not “anything new”.
The anti-corruption unit has secured 18 convictions including six life bans, mainly involving obscure and low-ranking players, since it was set up eight years ago. They are a red flag and they are investigated.
Brook noted, for instance, that there are now some 68 different possible bets that can be placed on tennis matches, more than half of them during play.
Last week, the sport was rocked by allegations that tennis authorities did not pursue evidence for match-fixing in recent years.
The joint investigation did not name any of the 15 players, but published the algorithm used to identify the players involved in matches with suspicious betting activity – including individual identification numbers for each case.
World number one Novak Djokovic and retiring Australian Lleyton Hewitt came under particular pressure after an Italian newspaper claimed Djokovic had voluntarily lost a match in 2007, while an online blog alleged Hewitt was one of the players linked to irregular betting patterns.
“We are very determined to make sure that we demonstrate to all of you today and to everybody around the world that we take this matter very seriously and that the integrity of our sport is paramount”.
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“What I don’t like is that names are attached based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever”.
