The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued a provisional suspension against three Belgian players following a pair of investigations. Arthur de Greef, Romain Barbosa and Alex Witmeur received word that they are barred from sanctioned play pending the outcome of investigations – though details on those investigations are still forthcoming.

According to a statement from the ITIA de Greef, Barbosa, and Witmeur are all subjects of a criminal investigation of some kind. That criminal investigation triggered an additional investigation by the ITIA that actually resulted in the suspensions.

Any amateur sleuths who want to dig around for clues can use the ITIA’s rule book as a starting point. The organization states that, “The ITIA may at any time make an application to an AHO for a Provisional Suspension of a Covered Person, including (i) before a Notice of Major Offense has been issued, (ii) before a Hearing or (iii) at any time after a Hearing but prior to the AHO’s issuance of a written Decision. Provisional Suspensions (and challenges and reviews thereof under this Section F.3) shall ordinarily be determined on written submissions unless the AHO considers an oral hearing necessary.”

Because the ITIA has weighed in on the matter at all is a strong indication that there may be allegations of match-fixing involved in the investigations. The ITIA was formed specifically to combat that kind of activity among the legion of professional tennis players vying for success in an a pressure cooker atmosphere. As an individual sport, tennis players are uniquely vulnerable to match-fixing enticements, a problem that’s been greatly reduced since the creation of the ITIA.

The ITIA has issued suspensions or bans to five other players already this year.

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