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Topics: Tennis
James Taylor
A tennis star has been handed a lifetime ban with an official statement released on the matter.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency has confirmed that unranked Thai player Jatuporn Na Lamphun has been banned from tennis for life and fined £84,000 for a series of corruption offences.
Na Lamphun's punishment came after the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) conducted an investigation into match fixing between 2023 and 2024. The 31-year-old was found to have facilitated or attempted to facilitate the fixing of 22 matches during that period.
In addition, he was charged with providing or offering money in 18 of those 22 matches, as well as failing to comply with the ITIA investigation. He had been provisionally suspended since December 2024 and did not respond to the sanction.
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That meant a lifetime ban officially came into force on 20 August.
Na Lamphun did not appeal that ruling to an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer.
Na Lamphun has received a comprehensive sanction, bringing his involvement within tennis to an end.
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He is now permanently banned from playing, coaching, or attending any tennis event that is authorised or sanctioned by several governing bodies.
They include: the ATP, WTA, ITF, Tennis Australia, the French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon, the USTA, and any national association.
That includes all four Grand Slams, both the men's and women's pro tours, as well as tours such as the Challengers and juniors.
Although Na Lamphun could compete in unsanctioned exhibitions and private competitions, he is barred from mainstream competitions.
This is not the first time that Na Lamphun has faced disciplinary action from the tennis authorities.
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In 2016, at the age of 22, he was suspended for 18 months and fined £3,700 after admitting to three breaches of the TACP, which including betting on tennis games.
Although he contested the accusations, he was found guilty of failing to co-operate with a Tennis Integrity Unit Investigation and received an 18-month suspension.
Mr Mill QC said: “The full and timely co-operation by participants in TIU investigations is of paramount importance in the efforts being made by the TIU to eliminate corruption in professional tennis.”
Now, Na Lamphun's career in tennis looks to be over for good.
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The case underlines the International Tennis Integrity Agency's determination to take action against suspected match fixing, as they work to protect the integrity of the sport.