Tennis player banned for betting

Italy's Alessio di Mauro has been banned from tennis for nine months for betting on matches.

An investigation launched in April this year found that Di Mauro had bet on matches from November 2, 2006 to June 12, 2007.

The findings were presented to the independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer, Dr Peter Bratschi who ruled Di Mauro, 31, should be banned from November 12, 2007 to August 12, 2008 and also fined £30,000.

Gayle David Bradshaw, the ATP's administrator of rules and competition, said: "This ruling underlines the ATP's stated policy of not tolerating players, associates or staff gambling on tennis.

"The ATP requested that the maximum sentence be imposed and whilst we would have preferred a longer suspension, we recognise that the independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer has to administer sanctions related to the specifics of the case and not as a general prevention.

"This is the first player to be sanctioned under the programme and we found no evidence of any attempt by the player to bet on his own matches.

"We also found no evidence of any attempt to affect the outcome of any matches."