Tennis integrity body hands Serbian player a 24 year ban for fixing matches
The International Tennis Integrity Agency banned Serbian player Stefan MiliÄeviÄ for 24 years and fined him $70,000 for fixing six matches and trying to fix six more between 2022 and 2024. He did not respond to the charges, so the sanction was applied by default.
Match fixing exists because people bet on the outcome, and lower level tennis is a regular target because it gets less scrutiny. South African punters who bet on tennis through licensed bookmakers are covered by betting rules and reporting duties, but fixed results can still pass through unnoticed. The case is a reminder that suspicious odds movements on obscure matches are not a reliable edge, and that betting is entertainment with real risk.
What the ITIA decided
The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced on 15 October 2026 that Serbian player Stefan MiliÄeviÄ, aged 29, is suspended for 24 years and must pay a $70,000 fine. His highest singles ranking was 1338, reached in August 2014.
The agency charged him with fixing six matches, five of them ones he played in, and with attempting to fix six more. All of this happened between 2022 and 2024. He was also charged with recruiting, or trying to recruit, several professional players into a corrupt network, which led to other players fixing matches.
How the case ended without a hearing
The ITIA says it investigated through 2026 and made seven attempts, through several channels, to get a response from him. He did not engage. A Notice of Major Offence was issued on 24 September 2026 and went unanswered, so under the agency's rules and sanctioning guidelines a deemed sanction took effect on 9 October 2026. The ban runs until 8 October 2050.
While suspended he cannot play in, coach at or attend events run or sanctioned by World Tennis, the WTA, the ATP, the Grand Slams or any national association. Because the sanction was applied by default, the player's side of the story has not been tested at a hearing.
Why it matters to bettors in South Africa
Tennis is a market where one player's result can be worth money to someone outside the court, which is the basic risk behind fixing. Betting on lower ranked events is not safer or smarter because the odds look generous. If an outcome has been arranged, you are the one without the information.
Set a budget before you bet, treat any stake as money you can afford to lose, and use deposit limits or self exclusion if play stops being fun. The National Responsible Gambling Programme helpline is 0800 006 008 for anyone in South Africa who needs support.
What to watch next
The ITIA has not said whether other players linked to the alleged network will face charges. Any further sanctions are published on its news page, so check there for developments instead of relying on rumours.