Leonardo Aboian banned for match-fixing violations
Leonardo Aboian, a 27-year-old tennis player from Argentina, has been handed a suspension lasting six years and nine months by the International Tennis Integrity Agency following his admission to 30 violations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program, reports BritPanorama.
The ITIA confirmed that Aboian acknowledged manipulating eight of his own matches during a seven-year period spanning from 2018 to 2025. His corrupt activities took place across both singles and doubles competitions at ITF World Tennis Tour and ATP Challenger level events.
The player will be unable to compete until June 2032 and faces a financial penalty of £30,000, although £18,500 of this amount has been suspended. His offences encompassed a range of corrupt activities during matches on the lower tiers of professional tennis.
Aboian’s sanction comes after he chose to accept an agreed sanction with the integrity body, waiving his entitlement to appear before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer. The ITIA statement outlined the full extent of Aboian’s misconduct, noting that he “admitted to all of the ITIA charges, including facilitating wagering, contriving the outcome of events, receiving payment not to give best efforts, and failure to report corrupt approaches.”
Aboian achieved his highest world singles ranking of 229 in April 2025, just months before his provisional suspension commenced. Throughout his period of ineligibility, the player is forbidden from participating in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event sanctioned by ITIA members, which include the ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, the French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon, and the USTA.
As Aboian contemplates a lengthy absence from competition, it serves as a sobering reminder of the integrity challenges facing the sport. With a long road ahead before a potential return, questions linger about how similar issues will be addressed within the professional ranks.
