Major off-field controversy hits tennis as three players face provisional suspensions
But here’s where the stakes rise: the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has placed three players under provisional suspension as part of its ongoing anti-corruption program. The charges revolve around alleged major offences, and the suspensions bar them from competing, coaching, or attending any tennis event sanctioned by major bodies.
Two Serbian athletes, Draginja Vukovic and Mila Masic, have been suspended under the category labeled ‘likelihood of a Major Offence.’ Masic, whose peak world ranking was 875 in 2024, has been sidelined since December 24, 2025. She attempted to appeal the provisional suspension to an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer, but an appeal was dismissed on February 19, 2026 by AHO Charles Hollander KC. Masic has not played a match since the ITF W15 Melilla event in December.
Vukovic, who reached as high as No. 527 in September, has been provisionally suspended since December 17, 2025. She did not appeal the suspension. The 25-year-old’s most recent singles appearance was at the ITF W35 Heraklion event in November.
A third player, Mark Kaufman from Russia, is suspended under the ‘failure to comply with a Demand’ clause of the anti-corruption code. Kaufman, 20, has been suspended since December 24, 2025. He sought to appeal, but his case stalled when he stopped corresponding with the Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer. AHO Diana Tesic subsequently dismissed his appeal on February 18, 2026 after no further communication.
During provisional suspensions, all three players are banned from playing, coaching, or attending any tennis event that falls under the ATP, WTA, ITF, Tennis Australia, the French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon, the USTA, or any national association’s jurisdiction.
For readers following sports integrity news, these developments underscore the ITIA’s ongoing vigilance against corruption in tennis. Controversy often surrounds how such charges are investigated and how players respond, including appeals and timelines. What’s your take on provisional suspensions in high-stakes sports integrity cases? Do you think the process balances fairness for the accused with the need to protect the sport’s reputation, or should there be different standards for appeal and transparency? Share your thoughts in the comments.
