The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has banned French official Morgan Lamri for life due to betting-related malpractices.
TIU said in a statement that Lamri, who is also registered as a non-active player on the ATP website, was found guilty on several charges. These included wagering or attempting to wager and attempting to influence the outcome of an event.
Lamri had told the AP news agency that he would appeal against this punishment and that he did not commit any of the wrongdoings the TIU claimed. He admitted that he was betting on games, but not ones that he officiated. He said: “I can’t believe they decided I am guilty without even hearing me.”
He added that like any Frenchman , he bet on tennis matches, especially those involving top players with stakes ranging between $1.87 to $156.
Lamri, who began playing tennis at 10, is well-known for his proficiency on muddy pitches. His last appearance officiating was the Spain F4 Futures championship held in Cartagena, Spain.
The TIU was formed in 2008 through joint efforts by the ATP and WTA tours, the ITF and the Grand Slam Committee.
