Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley are banned from tennis for life as part of a match-fixing case, The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced on Wednesday.
Kolar from Slovenia, 28, was fined $175,000 and Riley from America, 32, was fined $50,000 for their respective match-fixing offenses which amassed to a combined 40 instances from 2015 to 2020.
The ITIA, which was established in 2021 to protect the integrity of tennis worldwide, said in their statement that the players’ punishments were a testament to “the depth and significance of these breaches, which included contriving aspects of matches, wagering, facilitating wagering, courtsiding, conspiracy, and failing to report corrupt approaches.”
“Neither player showed any contrition or remorse for their actions,” the ITIA added.
Kolar and Riley were initially suspended in March 2023 while waiting for the results of the investigation that revealed a bucket-load of Tennis Anti-Corruption Program breaches.
Kolar’s ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association for both singles and doubles hit the top 200 throughout the match-fixing and she conspired with Riley, meddling in four of their matches.
For Riley, her singles ranking in 2015 landed at No. 691.
A majority of Riley’s offenses were tied to fixing individual points and games as well as facilitating match wagerings and failing to preserve evidence.
The ITIA cited Kolar and Riley’s actions as “corruption offenses of the highest order of severity over an extended period of time,” and did not go easy on the repercussions, setting a precedent for current and future players.
The maximum penalty for TACP breaches is $250,000.