Full Breakdown
Samuel Bensoussan’s Match-Fixing Ban Extended to Three Years
7/17/2026, 12:33:56 PM
Extended Ban and Timeline
Former French professional Samuel Bensoussan, 34, saw his suspension for match fixing increased from one year and 11 months to three years. The original ban began in May 2025; the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the new sanction to start on the same date, meaning Bensoussan will remain ineligible until May 2028. In addition to the extended ban, he was fined $12,000 (£8,880).
Background of the Corruption Case
Bensoussan was found guilty of fixing four matches after an independent anti-corruption hearing officer concluded that 18 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Protocol had been committed, with all but one proven. The violations were linked to a Belgian-based match-fixing syndicate allegedly founded by Grigor Sargsyan. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reported that the organisation corrupted at least 181 players worldwide and manipulated a minimum of 375 matches. Bensoussan’s career-high ranking was No. 405 in June 2018; he has not competed professionally since 2019. He was sanctioned alongside Natthasith Kunsuwan, Jaimee Floyd Angele and Christian Lindell.
Official Decisions and Responses
- CAS ruling: The appeal filed by Bensoussan was dismissed, and the tribunal upheld every ITIA charge. CAS then increased the sanction “in line with similar cases,” though it stopped short of the six-and-a-half-year term sought by the ITIA.
- ITIA position: The agency appealed the original decision, arguing that Bensoussan’s punishment should be raised to match penalties imposed on other conspirators.
- Bensoussan’s claim: In his appeal, he asserted that former player Mick Lescure—who received a lifetime ban in 2022 for match fixing—had made false accusations that drew him into the scheme.
Implications for Tennis Governance
The extended ban reinforces the sport’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and demonstrates the willingness of adjudicating bodies to align individual sanctions with broader patterns of misconduct. Under the ruling, Bensoussan is barred from playing, coaching, or attending any events sanctioned by World Tennis, the WTA, the ATP or the Grand Slams throughout the suspension period. The case highlights the ongoing challenge of dismantling extensive match-fixing networks that span multiple countries and involve hundreds of participants.
