Serbian tennis player Stefan Milicevic has been suspended for 24 years and fined $70,000 following severe breaches of anti-corruption rules. The International Tennis Integrity Agency imposed the sanctions after concluding that the 29-year-old athlete manipulated multiple matches and operated as part of a corrupt network within the sport. Investigations into the matter took place in 2026.

Match Fixing and Network Allegations

Investigators determined that Milicevic was involved in fixing six tennis matches between 2022 and 2024, stepping onto the court himself in five of those contests. Beyond those instances, records show he attempted to alter the outcome in six additional matches. According to announcements from the International Tennis Integrity Agency, Milicevic also recruited other professional players into a corrupt network, instigating wider fraud. The International Tennis Integrity Authority convicted the 29-year-old for attempting to recruit several young tennis players in the same period as part of a corrupt network, which resulted in those individuals also manipulating matches.

Serbian tennis player Stefan Milicevic banned for 24 years over match-fixing and recruitment scandalSerbian tennis player Stefan Milicevic has been handed a staggering 24-year ban and fined $70,000 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) afhttps://t.co/lwAzTEBcy2 pic.twitter.com/Ffca8dSCHa

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Enforcement and Non-Cooperation

The penalty took effect on October 9, 2026, after the player failed to respond to inquiries or cooperate with investigators. The International Tennis Integrity Agency made seven separate attempts through various channels to secure a statement from Milicevic before issuing the formal notice of violation on September 24. Because he did not reply, the sanctions were enacted automatically under governing guidelines.

Career Impact and Sanction Terms

The ban effectively terminates the player’s career, running until October 8, 2050, at which point Milicevic will be 53 years old. The 24-year suspension is among the penalties handed down by anti-corruption investigators in the sport. Under the terms of the ruling, Milicevic is barred from playing, coaching, or attending any tournament organized or sanctioned by World Tennis, the WTA, the ATP, the Grand Slam tournaments, or any national federation. Historical rankings show that Milicevic never reached the upper echelon of professional tennis, achieving a career-high singles ranking of world number 1338 in August 2014. While severe, the 24-year term is not the harshest penalty the International Tennis Integrity Agency can issue, as several players have previously received lifetime bans, including Alexis Musialek from France, Nastja Kolar from Slovenia, Alexandra Riley from the United States, and Karen Khachatryan from Bulgaria.

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