MELBOURNE (AFP) — Former ATP Player Council president Ivan Ljubicic said on Tuesday that suspensions for three Italian players who bet on other people's matches were too harsh.
Potito Starace, Alessio Di Mauro and Daniele Bracciali are currently out of the game for place small bets, serving bans of six weeks, nine months and three months respectively.
"What they did was stupid," said Ljubicic, playing in the Kooyong Classic starting on Wednesday.
"But to be suspended nine months because you put a few euros on a match on the other side of the world is a bit too aggressive.
"I think they paid too high a price, it was too heavy. But they didn't follow the rules and that's what they got."
The Australian Open is set to launch a crackdown around the grounds of Melbourne Park to prevent any hint of possible scandal.
Measures to be applied include a ban on courtside laptops, to prevent real-time online betting. The traditional punting kiosk where fans could bet has also gone, along with the event's official bookmaker.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
