The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed new disciplinary action against Russian tennis player Anastasia Sukhotina, while separately upholding the provisional suspension of Azerbaijan Davis Cup captain Yalchin Manafli.
Sukhotina has been suspended for four years and 10 months after admitting to eight breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) committed between 2019 and 2024. The 26-year-old, whose career-high singles ranking was world No. 607 in August 2019, also received a $30,000 fine, with $22,500 of that amount suspended.
According to the ITIA, the violations escalated over time, beginning with attempts to bet on tennis before progressing to corrupting other players and destroying evidence. Although Sukhotina initially denied the allegations, she later agreed to a negotiated sanction with the ITIA. Her suspension took effect on 17 July 2026 and will remain in force until 16 May 2031.
In a separate case, Azerbaijan Davis Cup captain Yalchin Manafli remains provisionally suspended after refusing to allow investigators to examine his mobile phone during an integrity investigation. Manafli, who has also served as Tournament Director for World Tennis Tour events in Azerbaijan, appealed the provisional suspension.
However, independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Philippe Cavalieros dismissed the appeal, concluding that "substantial evidence supports the provisional suspension." Manafli's provisional suspension has been in place since 11 June 2026 while the investigation continues.
During their respective suspension periods, neither Sukhotina nor Manafli may play, coach, officiate or attend events organised or sanctioned by the ITIA's member organisations, including the ATP, WTA, ITF, Grand Slam tournaments and national tennis associations.
The case adds to a busy year for the ITIA, following its recent sanctions against Gustavo Tedesco and Gyulnara Nazarova, the suspension handed to Russian player Alana Tuayeva for match-fixing, and a quarterly update showing a sharp drop in betting alerts alongside a rise in anti-doping testing.
The ITIA reported earlier this month that it received 10 suspicious betting alerts during the second quarter of 2026, down from 21 in the first quarter, although a betting alert does not in itself indicate that match-fixing has occurred
