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French Player Samuel Bensoussan’s Match-Fixing Ban Extended to Three Years
7/16/2026, 12:42:31 AM
Ban Increased to Three Years
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has raised French tennis player Samuel Bensoussan’s suspension from one year and 11 months to three years. The decision was issued on Wednesday in London. Bensoussan, 34, reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 405 in June 2018.
Investigation Findings and Prior Sanction
Bensoussan was originally penalised for fixing singles and doubles matches in lower-tier events on behalf of an organized-crime syndicate based in Belgium. The ITIA’s published findings described a criminal organization that “corrupted at least 181 players worldwide and involved the manipulation of at least 375 tennis matches.” A related criminal case in Belgium resulted in a five-year prison sentence for the syndicate’s leader.
Court of Arbitration for Sport Decision
CAS judges declined the ITIA’s request to increase the ban to 6½ years and also refused to order Bensoussan to repay 1,000 euros (approximately $1,150) that investigators said he received for fixing a 2018 match. The three-judge panel therefore set the final suspension at three years without a financial restitution requirement.
Implications for Tennis Integrity
The extended ban underscores the ITIA’s commitment to combating match-fixing and signals that appeals will not automatically lead to harsher penalties. By maintaining a three-year suspension rather than the requested 6½ years, CAS balanced the need for deterrence with proportionality, while the disclosed scope of the syndicate’s reach highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in lower-tier tennis events.
