Focus Turns to Betting Records in Tennis Probe
Tennis: The ATP have called in the British Horseracing Authority for guidance in their investigation into alleged corruption at the Poland Open.
Specialist investigators working under the guidance of the British Horseracing Authority will demand access to the online gambling accounts and telephone records of people they suspect of corruption following the recent Poland Open match between Nikolay Davydenko and Martin Vassallo Arguello.
The ATP, men's tennis governing body, turned to the BHA's regulatory unit, led by the former Scotland Yard detective Paul Scotney, after suspicious betting patterns on the match led the betting exchange Betfair to nullify all wagers.
Yesterday the ATP announced that, on the BHA's recommendation, two independent investigators had been retained to look into links between those who bet on the match and the two players or their associates.
The ATP has an agreement with Betfair that enables it to request the account details of anyone believed to be involved in suspicious activities. The ATP's regulations, which bar players or anyone connected to them from betting on the sport, also require individuals suspected of corruption to provide online betting account information, telephone records and other documentation.
Suspicions were aroused when Arguello traded on Betfair as the clear favorite throughout the match, even when a set down to his higher-ranked opponent, and went on to win when Davydenko retired with an injury. About $7m (£3.5m) was traded on the match, well in excess of the average for such a game.
The case could be a watershed for tennis, as well as for the BHA's regulatory team, which is expected to take a leading role in tackling gambling-related corruption across sport.
The ATP, men's tennis governing body, turned to the BHA's regulatory unit, led by the former Scotland Yard detective Paul Scotney, after suspicious betting patterns on the match led the betting exchange Betfair to nullify all wagers.
Yesterday the ATP announced that, on the BHA's recommendation, two independent investigators had been retained to look into links between those who bet on the match and the two players or their associates.
The ATP has an agreement with Betfair that enables it to request the account details of anyone believed to be involved in suspicious activities. The ATP's regulations, which bar players or anyone connected to them from betting on the sport, also require individuals suspected of corruption to provide online betting account information, telephone records and other documentation.
Suspicions were aroused when Arguello traded on Betfair as the clear favorite throughout the match, even when a set down to his higher-ranked opponent, and went on to win when Davydenko retired with an injury. About $7m (£3.5m) was traded on the match, well in excess of the average for such a game.
The case could be a watershed for tennis, as well as for the BHA's regulatory team, which is expected to take a leading role in tackling gambling-related corruption across sport.
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