Kazakhstan tennis official Assylbek Kassym has been suspended from international tournaments for one year for violating anti-corruption rules. The decision restricts his participation in all professional competitions under the auspices of international organisations.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SANCTIONS
According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the disciplinary measures are connected to a refusal to cooperate with the investigation and attempts to corruptly influence players.
The ITIA reported that in 2025, Assylbek Kassym was suspended from competitions for a period of one year and fined $10,000, of which $7,000 was suspended.
The sanctions came into force on 19 March 2026 and will remain in effect until 18 March 2027, provided the fine is paid in full.
REASONS FOR THE INVESTIGATION
The agency stated that the investigation uncovered violations related to attempts to influence players for corrupt purposes.
It was also clarified that while he initially responded to enquiries, he later stopped cooperating with the investigation and ceased to participate in the process.
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED
For the duration of the sanctions, Assylbek Kassym is prohibited from:
- participating in tennis competitions;
- acting as an official or umpire;
- engaging in coaching activities;
- attending tournaments sanctioned by international and national tennis organisations.
Under the same ruling, the ITIA also separately sanctioned two female tennis players — Mila Masic (Serbia) and Jana Vanik (Germany) — for violations and refusal to cooperate with the investigation, although their cases have not been linked to the activities of the Kazakhstan official in the materials.