SATV, Kathmandu, October 16-Serbian tennis player Stefan Milicevic has been handed a 24-year ban over allegations of match-fixing, marking one of the harshest sanctions imposed following an anti-corruption investigation in tennis, short of a lifetime ban.

According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the 29-year-old was accused of fixing six matches, including five in which he competed. He was also accused of attempting to fix six additional matches between 2022 and 2024.

Milicevic, who competed at the lower levels of professional tennis, was further accused of recruiting or attempting to recruit other professional players as part of a corrupt network. According to the ITIA, players recruited through him were also implicated in match-fixing allegations.

The ITIA said Milicevic's failure to cooperate with the investigation was a major factor behind the lengthy ban. The independent investigative body reportedly made seven attempts to contact him, but he did not participate in the investigation process.

In addition to the ban, Milicevic was fined £53,000. His suspension will expire in October 2050, when he will be 53 years old.

During the suspension period, he will be prohibited from playing in, coaching at or attending any tournament organised or recognised by the governing bodies of world tennis, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the Grand Slam tournaments or any national tennis association.

Earlier, in December, French tennis player Quentin Folliot was also handed a 20-year ban after being found to have played a central role in a network of players involved in match-fixing.

Folliot, who reached a career-high world ranking of No. 488 in 2022, denied allegations relating to 11 matches played between 2022 and 2024. He had personally competed in eight of those matches.

However, during the hearing, 27 of the 30 charges relating to 10 of the 11 matches were upheld.