LONDON – In a significant crackdown on corruption in tennis, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced a 12-year ban for Chinese player Pang Renlong, who has also been fined $110,000 due to his involvement in a series of match-fixing activities. The 25-year-old admitted to fixing a total of five matches and to making corrupt approaches aimed at influencing the outcomes of an additional 11 matches over a five-month timeframe between May and September 2024.
The matches in question took place during several International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments held across Turkey, Hong Kong, and mainland China, as well as during his unsuccessful qualifying attempts for the Jinan Open, an ATP Challenger event in China. This scandal has sparked serious concerns about the integrity of lower-level professional tennis, where such incidents can often go unnoticed.
Pang’s highest career ranking peaked at 1,316 last year, and while the detailed list of the affected matches has not been disclosed, the repercussions of his actions will echo throughout his career. His ban, which extends to 2036, includes retroactive time already served under a provisional suspension, effectively sidelining him from professional play for an extended duration. Of the total fine, $70,000 will be suspended, but he is strictly prohibited from participating in or attending any events organized by major tennis governing bodies or national federations.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of a similar case involving French player Quentin Folliot, who received a staggering 20-year suspension for his role in match-fixing and for allegedly recruiting other players to cooperate with a match-fixing syndicate. Folliot became the sixth player to be penalized in connection to this ongoing investigation, reiterating the ITIA’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport.
As tennis grapples with these revelations, the ITIA remains vigilant in its efforts to root out corruption, ensuring that both the players and the integrity of the game itself remain protected.
