A professional tennis player has been suspended for three months after she was found to have trained with a coach who is currently banned from the sport.
Mina Hodzic is barred from participating in any tennis activities, either playing or coaching, until June 6th due to this decision.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) issued the ban after Hodzic trained with Jordi Marse-Vidri.
Marse-Vidri, from Spain, is serving a 15-year ban for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
The ITIA had previously warned Hodzic that she would face a ban if she trained with Marse-Vidri.
However, the 22-year-old German player participated in a training session with him in October 2024.
Consequently, she received a three-month ban, effective from March 6th to June 6th, and was fined £775 ($1000).
Hodzic is now restricted from competing in or attending any tennis events authorized by ITIA members. This includes events organized by the ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, the French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon, and the USTA, as well as all national associations.
Marse-Vidri was among six tennis professionals banned in 2022 following criminal convictions in Spanish courts for match-fixing. His 15-year ban is set to end in 2035.
He also received a fine of £12,000 ($15,000), of which £3,900 ($5,000) was suspended. Marc Fornell Mestres, Carlos Ortega, Jaime Ortega, Marcos Tarralbo, and Pedro Bernabe Franco also received bans ranging from seven to 22 years.
After the conclusion of the criminal cases, the ITIA imposed sanctions on the players.
