Serbian tennis player Stefan Milicevic banned for 24 years over match-fixing and recruitment scandal

Serbian tennis player Stefan Milicevic has been handed a staggering 24-year ban and fined $70,000 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after being found guilty of orchestrating match-fixing schemes and recruiting fellow professionals into a corrupt network. The 29-year-old is barred from participating in, coaching at, or even attending any tennis events sanctioned by governing bodies until October 8, 2050.

Milicevic’s offenses span from 2022 to 2024, during which he fixed six matches and made repeated attempts to involve other players in match manipulation. According to the ITIA, his recruitment efforts were successful, leading to multiple professionals engaging in corrupt activities beyond the six matches directly linked to him. This has expanded the scope of the investigation considerably.

Despite seven attempts by the ITIA in 2026 to engage him through various channels, Milicevic refused to cooperate with the probe. He ignored a formal Notice of Major Offense issued on September 24, 2026, resulting in a deemed sanction taking effect on October 9. The lack of response meant the case bypassed a formal hearing, with no independent anti-corruption hearing officer ruling issued.

The ITIA emphasized that Milicevic’s ban reflects the gravity of his violations and his role in trying to broaden corruption within professional tennis. “Milicevic was also charged with recruiting or attempting to recruit multiple professional players as part of a corrupt network during the same period, resulting in a number of other players fixing matches,” the agency stated. The 24-year suspension covers all events organized or sanctioned by World Tennis, ATP, WTA, Grand Slam tournaments, and national associations.

Milicevic’s ban ranks among the most severe penalties ever imposed in tennis for match-fixing, highlighting the ITIA’s intensified crackdown on corruption networks rather than isolated incidents. The case shines a harsh spotlight on the ongoing battle against match-fixing that threatens the sport’s integrity.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues into Milicevic’s doubles partner, Marino Jakic, who has been provisionally suspended since June 24, 2026. Jakic’s suspension was upheld by independent hearing officer Amani Khalifa in August after an appeal, based on substantial evidence. However, this provisional suspension is not a final verdict, and Jakic’s case remains under scrutiny.

The ITIA’s decisive action against Milicevic and ongoing probe into Jakic underscore a zero-tolerance approach toward corruption in tennis. The agency’s relentless pursuit of integrity sends a powerful message to players and officials alike: match-fixing and recruitment into corrupt networks will be met with the harshest sanctions possible.