The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has handed a provisional suspension to Peruvian tennis player Mauricio Echazu Puente, pending the results of an anti-corruption investigation.
The suspension, issued by independent anti-corruption hearing officer Raj Parker, came into effect on 6 August and prohibits Puente competing in or attending sanctioned tennis events.
The ITIA did not go into further detail about the anti-corruption case, but it did state that it issued the suspension under section F.3 of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP) 2021.
Section F.3 permits the ITIA to suspend a player before notice of a major offence has been issued, prior to a hearing or during a hearing before a decision is reached on the case.
An anti-corruption hearing officer must immediately impose a provisional suspension if they are satisfied the player or individual in questions has been charged with a criminal offence, is the subject of criminal proceedings or subject to an extant criminal order or sentence.
Puente, 32, had a career-high ATP singles ranking of 379 in February 2010 and a high doubles ranking of 393 in August 2011. He was also previously part of Peru’s Davis Cup team.
