By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, December 9, 2022
Frenchmen Jules Okala (pictured here) and Mick Lescure have been banned from tennis for life for multiple match-fixing incidents dating back to 2014.
Photo credit: Getty
Committing multiple match-fixing offenses has cost a pair of Frenchmen their tennis careers.
Jules Okala, pictured above, and Mick Lescure have been banned from tennis for life for multiple match-fixing incidents dating back to 2014, the International Tennis Integrity agency announced today.
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Both players are permanently banned from playing in or attending any tennis event sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis.
The 25-year-old Okala who reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 338 on March 2, 2020, was found guilty of seven match fixing charges and as well as the lifetime ban has been issued with a fine of $15,000.
Lescure, 29, who had a highest ATP ranking of 487 in August of 2018, was found guilty of eight charges and has been fined $40,000.
The French pair are both part of wider law enforcement investigations in France and Belgium.
The breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) that the players have been found guilty of are:
Jules Okala Offenses:
Three counts of section D.2.a.i of the 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 TACPs: In the event any Player is approached by any person who offers or provides any type of money, benefit or Consideration to a Player to (i) influence the outcome or any other aspect of any Event… it shall be the Player's obligation to report such incident to the TIU [Now ITIA] as soon as possible.
Two counts of section D.1.d of the 2017 TACP: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.
Two counts of section D.1.e of the 2017 TACP: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or facilitate any Player to not use his or her best efforts in any Event.
Mick Lescure Offenses:
Seven counts of section D.1.d of the 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 TACPs: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.
Two counts of section D.1.e of the TACP from 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 TACPs: No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or facilitate any Player to not use his or her best efforts in any Event.