Tennis players suspended over anti-corruption rules as two accused of ‘major offence’ | Tennis | Sport
The International Tennis Integrity Agency has announced that two tennis players have been provisionally suspended pending the consideration of Tennis Anti-Corruption Program charges. Serbian athletes Draginja Vukovic and Mila Masic have been suspended under the ‘likelihood of a Major Offence’.
Masic, who peaked at No. 875 in the world in 2024, was provisionally suspended from December 24, 2025. The 28-year-old attempted to appeal the imposition of the provisional suspension to an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer.
However, on February 19 of this year, AHO Charles Hollander KC dismissed her appeal. Masic has not played a match since competing at the ITF W15 Melilla event in December.
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Vukovic, meanwhile, has been provisionally suspended since December 17, 2025, and did not attempt to appeal this. Vukovic was ranked as high as No. 527 in September. The 25-year-old’s last singles tournament came at the W35 Heraklion on the ITF circuit in November.
A third player, Mark Kaufman, from Russia, has been provisionally suspended under the ‘failure to comply with a Demand’ section of the anti-corruption code. The 20-year-old has been provisionally suspended since December 24, 2025.
The ITIA said Kaufman attempted to appeal the provisional suspension, but the appeal was dismissed when he stopped correspondence.
“On 9 January 2026, Kaufman exercised their right to appeal the imposition of the provisional suspension to an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO), before notifying the President of the AHO Panel, Professor Richard McLaren, of their intent to withdraw from proceedings, leading to a delay,” the ITIA statement read.
“After no further correspondence was received from the player, AHO Diana Tesic dismissed Kaufman’s appeal on 18 February 2026.”
While provisionally suspended, the three players are banned from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the ATP, WTA, ITF, Tennis Australia, French Tennis Federation, Wimbledon, the USTA, or any national association.
