The ITIA International Tennis Integrity Agency announced that Heriberto Morales Churata, a tennis chair umpire from Bolivia has been banned for six years following multiple breaches of the TACP Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. Besides the ban, the umpire was also fined US$10,000.
Morales Churata, a green badge official, was found to have manipulated scores for betting purposes by incorrectly entering scores into the handheld device at ITF World Tennis Tour events in 2021 and 2022.
The case was dealt with under the 2023 TACP “agreed sanction” framework. This allows for a sanction to be issued by the ITIA to the official upon admission of the offenses, without the need for a hearing. The suspension was backdated to the start of Morales Churata’s provisional suspension on 8th December 2022 and will end on 7th December 2028. During this time Morales Churata is prohibited from officiating at or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the governing bodies of tennis.
The ITIA is an independent body established by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide Ends Notes to editors
