ITIA Quarterly Update - Q2 2025

An introduction from Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)

Recently, our Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal in the case of Tara Moore was concluded – resulting in a four-year period of ineligibility for the player, and more discussion of Tennis Anti-Doping Programme rules.

We acknowledge the time that this case has taken to reach a conclusion. In all cases, we balance our commitment to processing cases efficiently with providing players every opportunity to prepare their explanation. In this case, the majority of the time between the player’s initial provisional suspension, in May 2022, and the first instance hearing, in December 2023, was down to the player’s requests for more time. Between December 2023 and the appeal decision, of course Ms Moore was eligible to play.

We do not take the decision to appeal first instance rulings lightly. We place a very high threshold on any appeal issued, with player welfare, the reputation of individuals involved, and the sport as a whole all key considerations in that approach. However, it was clear to us, and our independent scientific experts, that the levels of nandrolone in the player’s sample were not explained by meat contamination, and that this had not been appropriately addressed by the first instance panel.

For the ITIA, every case is considered on its individual facts and circumstances. As far as we can see in public record, meat contamination has never been successfully argued as an explanation for an adverse analytical finding for nandrolone – let alone the 105 ng/ml levels in this case.

Ultimately, a decision which upholds meat contamination at those levels would have set a very dangerous precedent across global sports, leaving open the prospect that athletes could travel to regions affected by meat contamination, use prohibited substances, and simply blame their nutrition. In that context, we had no choice but to appeal.

Education, support and engagement remain strategic priorities for the organisation, and we continue to deliver proactively with players, coaches, agents, officials, and player support personnel throughout every level of the game – from Grand Slams through to ITF World Tennis Tour 15K tournaments, and, perhaps most importantly, junior events - ensuring that everyone is equipped with the essential knowledge to avoid inadvertent breaches of the rules.

Part of our work, too, is to improve understanding of the case management process – but this not a challenge the ITIA can overcome on our own. It is a collective responsibility of all members of the tennis family to work together – and we will continue to offer as many opportunities as possible to meet with stakeholders to answer questions, listen to feedback, and find solutions.

In that spirit, this year we began to produce short videos which break down the often unwieldy and confusing process of some of the higher-profile cases, so that they are better digestible. You can see one of our recent videos, on the case of Max Purcell, below.

In the coming weeks, we will be launching a secure WhatsApp messaging platform, which will make it easier than ever before for members of the tennis family to securely reach out to us and ask questions, seek support, or report potential breaches of the rules. I look forward to sharing this with the tennis family, and continuing to work closely together to keep the sport clean.

Sanctions and Provisional Suspensions

Players and officials – TADP sanctions

Max Purcell – 18 months

Irina Fetecău – 10 months

Yash Chaurasia – 12 months

Imran Sibille – one month

Tsao Chia-yi – 12 months

Players and officials – TACP sanctions

Yannick Thivant – lifetime ban

Thomas Brechemier – seven years and six months

Gabriel Petit – six years and six months

Thomas Setodji – 10 years

Hugo Daubias – two years

Luis Rodriguez – lifetime ban

Antonio Sosa – five years

Wellingthon Lopez – four years and six months

Alexandra Iordache – two years

Anapat Timangkul – three years and nine months

Wang Chukang – eight months

Paul Valsecchi – four-and-a-half months

Enzo Rimoli – two months

Anze Arh – three years

Tom Jomby – seven years

Natthasith Kunsuwan – 12 years

Jaimee Floyd Angele – five years and three months

Christian Lindell – seven years

Samuel Bensoussan – one year and 11 months

Australian national-level official Vasos Alexandrou was issued a fine of $2,000 ($1,500 of which is suspended), for placing bets on tennis, resulting in a breach of section D.1.a of the TACP. Alexandrou did not bet on matches they were officiating in.

Alexis Musialek’s appeal against a TACP sanction was partially upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, reducing their suspension from a lifetime ban to 10 years.

Provisional Suspensions

Imran Sibille (TADP)

Jossting Cruz (TACP)

Jasel Beltre (TACP)

Match alerts

In the second quarter of 2025, the ITIA received a total of 10 match alerts through its confidential Memoranda of Understanding with the regulated betting industry.

A note about match alerts:

Every alert reported to the ITIA is recorded, assessed and followed up as an indicator that something inappropriate may have happened. It is important to note that an alert on its own is not evidence of match-fixing.

Unusual betting patterns can occur for many reasons other than match-fixing – for example incorrect odds-setting; well-informed betting; player fitness, fatigue or form; playing conditions and personal circumstances.

The number and distribution of alerts are reported quarterly. Care should be taken in drawing any conclusions about prevailing corruption across the tennis ‘pyramid’ as there are many more matches at the bottom than at the top.

Where analysis of a match alert does suggest corrupt activity, the ITIA conducts a full, confidential investigation.

In addition, the ITIA considers intelligence from various sources, and encourages anyone with any concerns to contact the ITIA.

Tennis Anti-Doping Programme Testing 

These figures outline the number of samples taken from players, not the number of tests (multiple samples e.g., urine and blood, can be taken from players when they are tested). All tests undertaken this quarter were with no notice.

The ITIA is responsible for the TADP across all professional tennis. Tests in Q2 of 2025 took place at events ranging from ITF $15K level to the French Open with in and/or out-of-competition testing undertaken in 30 different countries.

ABP = Athlete Biological Passport

DBS = Dry Blood Spot