Brazilian tennis player Joao Souza has been slapped with a lifetime ban by the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU).  He has been charged with multiple match-fixing and corruption offences.

In addition to the ban, a ban of $200,000 has also been imposed upon the Brazilian player.

What Has Joao Souza Been Charged For?

TIU conducted an investigation on the match-fixing allegations against Souza from the time period between 2015 and 2019. The said investigation established conclusively that Souza indulged in numerous breaches of the Tennis anti-corruption programme (TACP).

Know More- Longest Tennis Matches In The History Of The Sport

These included repeated incidents of match-fixing at ATP challenger and ITF Futures tournaments which were held in Brazil, Mexico, The United States and the Czech Republic.

What Were The Other Charges On Souza?

However, this wasn’t all that Souza has been charged for. There are other serious allegations on the player.

TIU investigation has convicted him for three more offences. Firstly, he’s accused of failing to report his corrupt approaches.

Secondarily, he has failed to cooperate in the investigation conducted by TIU. This includes the extremely serious charge of destroying evidence. Thirdly, he has also been charged with motivating other players to underperform.

The case against Souza was heard by an anti-corruption hearing officer of the TIU named Prof Richard H. Mclaren. The disciplinary hearing against him was heard in London on 14 January 2020.

For those interested in understanding the implications of the ban, Joao Souza will be prevented from any sanctioned organized by any governing body in tennis.

Joao Souza hasn’t had much success as a tennis player. The Brazilian has reached as high as No 69 in the ATP men’s singles rankings. While in the doubles category, he has reached as high as no 70.

Currently, the player was ranked No 742 in ATP singles rankings.

What Is The Tennis Integrity Unit?

The Tennis Integrity Unit is the anti-corruption body responsible for enforcing zero tolerance to betting-related corruption. It is operationally independent and based in London.

However, it is jointly funded by the seven biggest stakeholders in tennis- International Tennis Federation, ATP, WTA, Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

The action by the TIU is commendable for the purpose of a sanitized sport in the future.

Arsenal new boy Stephan Lichtsteiner is the third Swiss player to face a suspension for their controversial celebration during the World Cup.

Fellow Gunners midfielder Granit Xhaka, along with Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri, were already facing a two match ban for their gestures against Serbia, plus a minimum £3,800 fine.

The charge comes after the trio all crossed their wrists together and linked thumbs to create the image of an eagle- which is the symbol of Albania – after a goal during their side’s 2-1 victory.

Shaqiri and Xhaka have Albanian or Kosovan roots, while Lichtsteiner doesn’t but appears to have joined the cause, as originally reported by Football.London.

A FIFA statement said: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committe has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Swiss player Stephan Lichtsteiner for a goal celebration during the match Switzerland vs Serbia.

“In relation to the same match, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the President of the Serbian FA Slavisa Kokeza as well as the national coach Mladen Krstajic for statements made in the aftermath of the said match.”

It seems the Swiss players could have fallen foul of ‘Provoking the public’ and the suggested punishment is ‘Anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned with a minimum fine of CHF 5,000.’

The bans would not affect the availability of either player at club level.

Full-back Lichtsteiner defended the celebration of his compatriots after the match.

He said: “”We had a lot of pressure, it was not an easy game for us.

“We have a lot of Albanians, so there is a lot of history between Serbia and Albania. It was a very tough game for them mentally.

“It was good. Why not? This is the history for them. The war between them was so difficult. I spoke to the father of one of our players who is Albanian, and he told me about this history. This is more than football. This is more than football because they have this period, this war that gave them both big problems.

“I understand them. I think it’s normal, it’s part of their life. There was also big provocation ahead of the game from them [Serbia], so I think it’s normal.”

Arsenal new boy Stephan Lichtsteiner is the third Swiss player to face a suspension for their controversial celebration during the World Cup.

Fellow Gunners midfielder Granit Xhaka, along with Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri, were already facing a two match ban for their gestures against Serbia, plus a minimum £3,800 fine.

The charge comes after the trio all crossed their wrists together and linked thumbs to create the image of an eagle- which is the symbol of Albania – after a goal during their side’s 2-1 victory.

Shaqiri and Xhaka have Albanian or Kosovan roots, while Lichtsteiner doesn’t but appears to have joined the cause, as originally reported by Football.London.

A FIFA statement said: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committe has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Swiss player Stephan Lichtsteiner for a goal celebration during the match Switzerland vs Serbia.

“In relation to the same match, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the President of the Serbian FA Slavisa Kokeza as well as the national coach Mladen Krstajic for statements made in the aftermath of the said match.”

It seems the Swiss players could have fallen foul of ‘Provoking the public’ and the suggested punishment is ‘Anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned with a minimum fine of CHF 5,000.’

The bans would not affect the availability of either player at club level.

Full-back Lichtsteiner defended the celebration of his compatriots after the match.

He said: “”We had a lot of pressure, it was not an easy game for us.

“We have a lot of Albanians, so there is a lot of history between Serbia and Albania. It was a very tough game for them mentally.

“It was good. Why not? This is the history for them. The war between them was so difficult. I spoke to the father of one of our players who is Albanian, and he told me about this history. This is more than football. This is more than football because they have this period, this war that gave them both big problems.

“I understand them. I think it’s normal, it’s part of their life. There was also big provocation ahead of the game from them [Serbia], so I think it’s normal.”

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — 

The jury was handed the trial of a former Western Michigan University basketball player accused of killing another student.

Closing arguments were made in the trial Joeviair Kennedy Tuesday and the jury started deliberations, but were sent home.

Kennedy is charged with killing and robbing Jacob Jones, 19, inside his apartment near campus in December 2016.

Jordan Waire was convicted of murder and robbery in May.

The jury will resume deliberations at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

As he ran through Australia on the fourth morning in Port Elizabeth, there was bad news for Kagiso Rabada filtering through from the ICC, with the Proteas paceman reported for his send-off of Australia vice-captain David Warner yesterday.

As he waits to find out whether he will be suspended for the remainder of the Test series for his making physical contact with Steve Smith on Friday, Rabada was hit with a Level 1 offence by the International Cricket Council today after screaming in the face of Warner having captured the opener’s wicket.

A Level 1 offence carries with it a maximum of 50 per cent match fee fine and two demerit points.

If he is cleared for the Smith incident by match referee Jeff Crowe, Rabada would not face suspension if given the maximum two demerit point penalty.

Rabada has been charged four times by the ICC, two of which have been for send-offs, an area of his game teammate AB de Villiers has urged the young charge to be smarter about.

“He’s got to be smarter and he knows that,” said de Villiers. “I don’t know what is going to happen to him after this Test but if he is around for the next Test match I think he would have learned from his mistakes.

“There was a lot of emotion from that last Test match going into this one and once again as a fast bowler you want to prove things to people and you want to show everyone you belong on this stage.”

De Villiers added: “I think it’s up to some of our senior guys to just help him.

“It’s important to some of the players to get around him before he’s close(enough) to a batter to tell him ‘you know what? I just got you out’.

“That’s what it basically comes down to, except with more emotion.

“He wants to tell him ‘I just won that battle’. I would’ve been the same.”

A worst-case scenario for Rabada following his charges from this Test would leave the 22-year-old with 11 demerit points, including seven that would stay on his record for 23 months.

Rabada’s history of ICC charges

Feb 2017: Inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella. Three demerit points and fined 50 per cent of match fee.

July 2017: Used inappropriate language after dismissing England allrounder Ben Stokes. One demerit point and fined 15 per cent of match fee. Suspended one Test.

Feb 2018: Using language which could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player in send-off of India batsman Shikhar Dhawan. One demerit point and fined 15 per cent of match fee.

Mar 2018: Level-two charge for making physical contact with Steve Smith during a spirited send-off. Expected to have argued it was not “deliberate” at a hearing. Later in same Test, screamed in David Warner’s face after dismissing the opener on day three. Possibly will be charged.

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage

WARNER-DE KOCK SPAT

Warner is now one demerit point away from a ban. © Getty

David Warner has been hit with three demerit points and fined 75 per cent of his match fee after deciding to accept the ICC’s level two charges that came from his altercation with Quinton de Kock during the first Test in Durban, but South Africa have confirmed that their player will contest his charge.

CCTV footage from a stairwell leading up to the dressing rooms at Kingsmead showed Warner continuing to verbally abuse de Kock as South Africa and Australia broke for tea on the fourth day of the first Test, which Australia went on to win by 118 runs.

Australia maintain that Warner was provoked by personal comments that de Kock made about his wife, but the Australia batsman has accepted the charges brought against him by match referee Jeff Crowe and is now one demerit point away from a ban. Level 2 breaches carry a fine of 50 to 100 per cent of the match fee and/or up to two suspension points, equating to three or four demerit points.

Because Warner admitted the offence, there was no need for a hearing and his punishment was confirmed on Wednesday (March 7) morning. He joins South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada among the players in the series with demerit points against their name who could be banned in the event of a further infraction.

De Kock, meanwhile, has decided to contest his level one charge after South Africa sought clarity over the accusations laid against him. He will now undergo a hearing on Wednesday evening in Port Elizabeth, where the teams are preparing for Friday’s second Test.

The heaviest penalty that de Kock could receive for a level one offence is a fine, but South Africa feel that even this would be unfair given that video footage appears to be the only evidence used by the ICC.

Warner’s level two charge, which related to “bringing the game into disrepute”, is thought to have been handed down purely on the basis of the CCTV footage, with umpires Kumar Dharmasena and S Ravi not hearing any on-field exchange between the players.

Given that de Kock did not react to Warner at all in the footage, South Africa feel he has no case to answer.

“We are appealing level one because we think Quinny didn’t do anything,” coach Ottis Gibson said on Wednesday. “Quinny wasn’t aggressive. You saw some footage and the footage showed Quinny walking up the stairs and somebody else being restrained and then Quinny gets a level one. That doesn’t seem fair.”

A verdict on the wicketkeeper-batsman will be delivered immediately after his hearing, which will take place at the team hotel.

© Cricbuzz

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Zoe Berry, who played one Test for the New Zealand women’s team against England in 2012, has been given a four-year suspension, along with Glen Roberton – who represented the All Blacks’ youth side as well as the Sevens team.

Ben Pedersen, a club-level player, has also been suspended for two years.

All three were banned for possessing and in some cases using or attempting to use the banned drug Clenbuterol, which aids fat loss but is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list.

The fourth player, Ben Qauqau-Dodds, was charged with possession and use or attempted use of the anabolic steroid metandienone, and was hit with a 21-month ban.

As well as being on Wada’s prohibited substance list, the drugs are also stated among New Zealand Sports Anti-Doping Rules. All four individuals – who were playing club rugby at the time of the offences – pleaded guilty to at least one of the offences.

New Zealand Rugby’s general manager, Neil Sorensen, said in a statement: “This serves as a reminder that all athletes have to be very careful about what they put into their bodies.”

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