Tennis star slapped with five-year ban after 11 of his matches were investigated

The International Tennis Integrity Agency has confirmed that Simon Ivanov has received a five-year suspension for offences under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. The Bulgarian tennis player has also been fined £18.5k ($25k).

The ITIA launched an investigation after receiving suspicious alerts relating to at least 11 matches Ivanov played between November 2019 and April 2024. He was interviewed four times between 2022 and 2024 as part of the investigation.

The body issued "written requests to analyse the player's known mobile devices as part of the investigation into potential corrupt activity." Ivanov was believed to have access to multiple mobile devices.

But the 25-year-old - who has a career-high singles ranking of No. 598 in the world - did not fully comply with the requests and later challenged the jurisdiction of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. He then refused to participate in the proceedings.

Ivanov also refused to attend a hearing chaired by an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO). Professor Richard McLaren found Ivanov liable for wagering.

The 25-year-old staked over £170k (€196k) on professional tennis matches between February and October 2022.

Ivanov was also found in breach of the non-cooperation section of the anti-corruption program.

When McLaren issued his decision, he extended Ivanov's sanction by an extra 12 months because of his "intimidating" and "threatening" conduct throughout the arbitration process.

In the written decision, dated August 15 2025, AHO McLaren said that Ivanov's challenges to jurisdiction were "entirely groundless".

He noted that the player's behaviour was "an attempt at intimidating individuals, and it is completely improper in light of the commitments of the Player to be bound by the TACP. The threats and submissions are rejected and dismissed without further response as baseless."

Ivanov's ban will be lifted on August 14, 2030. While suspended, he cannot play in, coach at, or attend tennis tournaments authorised or sanctioned by the ATP, WTA, ITF, Tennis Australia, French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon, USTA, or any national association.

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