We (ATP, ITF) are watching you, and think something fishy is going on.....$2,000 is a slap on the wrist, but if you watch the video, Davydenko says to the umpire "So you want me to retire?" Davydenko was on the verge of retiring because the umpire was calling him a cheater right then and there. If he retired at that point all bets on the match would have been "no action." (Thanks Diamond for the source)
Who knows what Davydenko was doing in that match, and (unless you have solid proof) no one can say if match fixing was going on. This fine may mean nothing, but it is saying to the other players that things will not be allowed to continue as they are with the obvious/suspcious match tanking.
With all the issues regarding the Russians at minor ATP events, it all points to something shady going on. Everyone has alleged match fixing has been going on for decades in tennis. This is an issue that may not go away, and betting on Russian players in minor ATP event may be a risk to your bankroll
I guess they are trying to do whatever they can do to "scare" them away from doing this crap, and I guess they might as well give it a shot. Without proff they're really handcuffed, but it is (as you say) a way of saying "I'M WATCHING YOU"
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ATP head de Villiers would kick out match fixers, give drug cheats 2nd chance
By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Sports Writer
November 1, 2007
LONDON (AP) -- The head of men's tennis would ban players for life if they are caught match-fixing, but would give a second chance to players who had doped.
ATP president Etienne de Villiers told a sports business conference in London on Thursday that tennis was being threatened by match fixing and gambling syndicates.
"It's definitely a threat and we take it very, very seriously, and the more you can do to tackle it the better it will be," he said.
The threat of match-fixing in tennis emerged in Poland in August. The online gambling company Betfair voided bets when fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko withdrew against 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello in the third set, citing a foot injury. Unusually large amounts were wagered on the lowly ranked Argentine throughout the match, even after he lost the first set 6-1. The ATP is investigating the match.
Since then, players have said they have been approached about influencing a match. Last month, Belgian player Gilles Elseneer said he was offered -- and turned down -- more than $100,000 to lose a first-round match against Potito Starace of Italy at Wimbledon in 2005. Arnaud Clement of France said on Monday he turned down money, although didn't elaborate.
De Villiers said that tennis players who are caught doping should be allowed back after serving their punishment.
"I would draw the distinction with doping," he said. "We have taken the view that also society takes, that you are allowed to make a mistake, you will serve your punishment, but come back into society. The punishment should fit the crime."
There would be no second chances for players who fix matches.
"Where it comes down to match-fixing we are categoric. There is no excuse for that," he said. "You are undermining the integrity of the sport, you are destroying a level playing field. As far as we are concerned in tennis, if they are involved in match fixing they will be thrown out."
The gathering of sports officials and business leaders also heard outgoing World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound say that some sports were making progress, but others were too slow to keep up with the drug cheats.
"We are dealing with 21st century problems with 19th century organizations," he said. "Out there with many Olympic federations the primary concern of international federation presidents is to be re-elected, not necessarily doing anything. If you want to do something like tackling doping it's a very complicated deal and I find that most of them don't have the stomach for the fight."
Pound said that cycling, and particularly the Tour de France, was paying the price for years of avoiding the problem.
"They have let the situation get out of control. The third tour in a row is a disaster and finally they get it," he said. "TV stations aren't covering it and sponsors are bailing out by the dozen. All of a sudden we are looking into an abyss here."
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Davydenko Fined $2000 by ATP for "lack of effort."
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