Tennis Integrity Unit reveals spike in suspicious betting

The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) anti-corruption body has said that suspicious betting patterns relating to matches within the professional sport increased in 2016. In its first annual report, the organisation said 292 alerts of unusual betting were registered last year, compared to 246 in 2015. The body said that only eight of the reports related to matches in the higher tier Grand Slam, ATP Tour and WTA Tour contests, with the others for matches at lower levels. Philip Brook, chairman of the TIU, said: “During the year, information received from partners in the betting industry confirmed an increasing number of matches at the lower levels of the professional game that were the subject of unusual or suspicious betting patterns. “While this was not conclusive proof of corruption, it is an indication of concern that all cases have to be investigated by the TIU.” Related article: Six tennis players arrested in match-fixing probe