Tennis: Italian Bracciali banned for life over match-fixing

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Italian former world top-50 player Daniele Bracciali has been banned from tennis for life after being found guilty of match-fixing, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) said on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old Italian, ranked 95 in doubles, was found guilty by an Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing of match-fixing offenses at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona on 2011. He was also fined 250,000 US dollars.

Former Italian player Potito Starace was also handed a 10-year ban from any future involvement in tennis, and a 100,000-U.S.-dollar fine after being found guilty of match-fixing and associated offences at the same tournament.

Both men will have the right of appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Potito Starace /VCG Photo

Bracciali reached a career-best doubles ranking of 21 in June 2012. As a single's player his highest ranking was 49.

Meanwhile, Starace, 37, reached a career-best singles ranking of 27 and a career-best 40 in doubles.

The TIU is an initiative of the sport's various governing bodies, the Grand Slam Board, the International Tennis Federation and the ATP and WTA Tours.

(With input from AFP, Reuters)