LONDON (AP) — Two low-ranked French tennis players were banned from the sport for life after being found guilty of match-fixing by a hearing officer.
Jules Okala, a 25-year-old with a career-best ATP ranking of No. 338, and Mick Lescure, a 29-year-old with a top ranking of No. 487, “admitted multiple charges,” the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced Friday.
Neither player is allowed to compete at — or even attend — any sanctioned tennis event again.
Okala was found guilty of seven match-fixing charges and fined $15,000 in addition to the permanent suspension. Lescure was found guilty of eight charges and fined $40,000 on top of the ban.
The punishments come after both players were involved in law enforcement investigations in France and Belgium, according to the sport’s integrity agency.