MADRID, Spain (AP)— The head of the men's tennis tour says "anything is possible" but he doesn't believe any players are involved in match-fixing.
"I'd say I have an enormous amount of confidence in our players," ATP chief executive Mark Miles said at the Masters series tournament in Madrid.
"I suppose anything is possible in some respects, but I believe that our guys, the athletes in tennis, are among the cleanest in any sport anywhere."
Miles spoke after a report in Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper alleging possible match-rigging in men's tennis.
The ATP Tour recently got permission from the online gambling company Betfair to see its clients' records, part of an effort to make sure players aren't involved in fixing matches.
Last week, bookmakers reportedly suspended betting six hours before a match in Lyon, France, between Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia and Spaniard Fernando Vicente after a big wager was placed on Vicente, winless since June.
Vicente won in straight sets. There was no suggestion that either player was involved in any wrongdoing. No investigation was made by the ATP.
Miles said Kafelnikov gave "a professional effort."
Wayne Ferreira, a South African who has been on the tour since 1989, said an injury bothered Kafelnikov.
"I know for a 100 percent fact that Yevgeny had a bad foot and was injured," Ferreira said. "I know playing doubles with him for a long time, he's had this problem before. He told me it was back. He tried his best and just couldn't win."
The ATP says it has been aware for some time of rumors, primarily in the gambling industry, about some irregular patterns in tennis.
"We're doing everything we can do to collect all the information possible about what goes on out there in a big, decentralized cyber world," Miles said.
The ATP began to focus on gambling a few years ago, and "I think in late 2001 we changed our rule, having looked at other organizations in sports," Miles said.
A player found guilty of match-fixing would face a US$100,000 fine, loss of prize money and a three-year suspension.
http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1750756
"I'd say I have an enormous amount of confidence in our players," ATP chief executive Mark Miles said at the Masters series tournament in Madrid.
"I suppose anything is possible in some respects, but I believe that our guys, the athletes in tennis, are among the cleanest in any sport anywhere."
Miles spoke after a report in Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper alleging possible match-rigging in men's tennis.
The ATP Tour recently got permission from the online gambling company Betfair to see its clients' records, part of an effort to make sure players aren't involved in fixing matches.
Last week, bookmakers reportedly suspended betting six hours before a match in Lyon, France, between Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia and Spaniard Fernando Vicente after a big wager was placed on Vicente, winless since June.
Vicente won in straight sets. There was no suggestion that either player was involved in any wrongdoing. No investigation was made by the ATP.
Miles said Kafelnikov gave "a professional effort."
Wayne Ferreira, a South African who has been on the tour since 1989, said an injury bothered Kafelnikov.
"I know for a 100 percent fact that Yevgeny had a bad foot and was injured," Ferreira said. "I know playing doubles with him for a long time, he's had this problem before. He told me it was back. He tried his best and just couldn't win."
The ATP says it has been aware for some time of rumors, primarily in the gambling industry, about some irregular patterns in tennis.
"We're doing everything we can do to collect all the information possible about what goes on out there in a big, decentralized cyber world," Miles said.
The ATP began to focus on gambling a few years ago, and "I think in late 2001 we changed our rule, having looked at other organizations in sports," Miles said.
A player found guilty of match-fixing would face a US$100,000 fine, loss of prize money and a three-year suspension.
http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1750756
