Former Moroccan tennis player Younes Rachidi has been handed a lifelong ban from tennis after being found guilty of fixing 135 matches, the ITIA announced. Rachidi, 36, last played in 2017, when he appeared in a Futures tournament in October.
During his career, Rachidi didn’t enjoy much success as he was mostly playing in the Futures level tournaments. In singles, Rachidi never won a title and he was ranked as high as No 753 in the world. In doubles, Rachidi won two doubles titles on the Futures level and he was once ranked at No 473 in the world.
Also, Rachidi represented Morocco in the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2014. After being found guilty of 135 match fixing offences, Rachidi has been permanently banned from the game and has also been handed a $34,000 fine.
The ITIA’s statement on Rachidi
“The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has today confirmed that Younes Rachidi, a Moroccan former tennis player, has been banned from the sport for life after being found guilty of 135 match fixing offences.
This is now the highest number of offences by one individual ever detected by the ITIA or its predecessor the Tennis Integrity Unit. The sanction means that Rachidi, who had a highest ATP doubles ranking of 473, is permanently prohibited from playing in, coaching at or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis.
The case was ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Office Janie Soublière who found all charges proved, the 135 breaches “egregious” and imposed a fine of $34,000 in addition to the life ban. Rachidi was involved in match fixing with two Algerian players recently banned by the ITIA with the cases uncovered following law enforcement investigations in conjunction with the ITIA in Belgium,” the ITIA’s statement read.
This is probably the record for the most match fixing offences committed by one player. As a result, Rachidi will never again be associated with the game in any way possible.
