CAS Increases Samuel Bensoussan Ban to 3 Years Over Match-Fixing

French tennis player Samuel Bensoussan saw his suspension extended to three years after investigations linked him to a syndicate that corrupted 181 players.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) officially increased Samuel Bensoussan’s suspension to three years, extending the French player's original term of 23 months. This ruling, announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Wednesday, followed an appeal where investigators sought a 6½-year penalty. The 34-year-old athlete, who achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 405 in June 2018, was found guilty of manipulating singles and doubles results in lower-tier professional events.

Global Corruption Network Details

Investigations revealed a massive criminal organization based in Belgium that corrupted at least 181 players across the globe. This syndicate facilitated the manipulation of a minimum of 375 tennis matches. While the ITIA pursued a longer sentence, the CAS verdict focused on the Frenchman’s involvement with this specific group. A related criminal trial has already resulted in a five-year prison sentence for the leader of the organized crime ring.

Financial Rulings and Legal Appeals

During the proceedings, evidence alleged that the player received 1,000 euros ($1,150) for fixing a single match during the 2018 season. However, the panel of three judges declined to order the repayment of that specific sum. The athlete originally approached the sports court in an attempt to overturn his initial suspension entirely, but the move resulted in the bench lengthening his time away from professional competition instead.

Career Impact and Integrity Standards

The ITIA continues to publish these verdicts to maintain transparency regarding match-fixing within the industry. By toughening the disciplinary action, the court addressed participation in a network that utilized lower-tier tournaments to facilitate illegal betting activities. No further details regarding specific match scores or tournament locations were provided in the official documentation.