A former French tennis player, Samuel Bensoussan, now faces a longer suspension due to his involvement in match-fixing activities. Initially suspended for one year and 11 months, his ban increased to three years after his appeal attempt did not succeed.
Bensoussan, 34, was linked to a significant match-fixing syndicate orchestrated by Grigor Sargsyan in Belgium. According to The Athletic, which referenced information from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the syndicate fixed a minimum of 375 matches, with about 1,500 individuals involved.
The player’s suspension began in May 2025. He appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), claiming false accusations from Mick Lescure, a former tennis player also banned for life in 2022 for similar offenses.
While Bensoussan faced 18 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Protocol, only one was not proven. His appeal coincided with a request from ITIA to increase his suspension to reflect penalties given to others. ITIA urged for a six-and-a-half-year ban.
CAS rejected Bensoussan’s appeal and opted to extend his suspension. Although it was not increased to ITIA’s suggested duration, Bensoussan must now serve a three-year ban. This suspension commenced on the original start date, now concluding in May 2028.
Bensoussan previously reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 405 in 2018 and has since shifted to coaching.