ATP official becomes the latest suspended as match-fixing ring is uncovered

After confessing to four violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme, a bronze-badge tennis official has been handed 10-year suspension.

A hefty £60,000 ($75,000) punitive fine has also been levied against Marko Ducman, of which £45k ($56k) is suspended. Ducman will no longer be permitted to attend any professional tennis tournament. He has officiated at ATP, WTA, and ITF events in the past.

Following an inquiry in which Ducman cooperated fully according to the ITIA, his 10-year and six-month suspension was announced on Thursday. The international-level official relinquished his entitlement to a hearing before an impartial Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence.

Ducman’s match corruption violations include betting on tennis matches and tampering with data from matches in which they were an official to promote betting. The umpire had been temporarily suspended since 8 September 2023.

The prohibition will now be backdated, expiring on March 7, 2034. During this period, the Slovenian umpire is not permitted to attend or officiate at any tennis event sanctioned or allowed by the ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, or US Open, or any national association.

The decision was imposed under a section of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme which states: “There is a likelihood that the Covered Person has committed a Major Offense and in the absence of a Provisional Suspension, the integrity of tennis would be undermined and the harm resulting from the absence of a Provisional Suspension outweighs the Hardship of the Provisional Suspension on the Covered Person.”

Ducman’s career in the sport might not be over but it will certainly be quite some time before he will officiate over a tennis match again.

The ITIA decision read: “The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Slovenian tennis official Marko Ducman has been suspended from the sport for 10 years and six months after admitting to breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

“Ducman, an international-level official, admitted to four breaches of the TACP, including wagering on tennis matches and manipulating data from matches in which they were an official to facilitate betting.

“Ducman, a bronze-badge official who has officiated at ITF, ATP and WTA tournaments, co-operated fully with the ITIA investigation and accepted an agreed sanction, waiving their right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer. Ducman has also been fined $75,000, with $56,250 suspended.”