FORMER world doubles No5 David Marrero is one of two tennis stars to have been banned for breaching the sport’s anti-corruption rules.
Marrero, 45, admitted to paying for, and offering to pay for, wildcards on four occasions.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)’s anti-corruption rules clearly state: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, offer, pay or accept any money, benefit or Consideration for the provision of a wildcard to an Event.”
Per the ITIA, the offences took place between 2022 and 2023.
The Spaniard has been slapped with a two years and seven months ban, which formally began on October 21, 2025.
Marrero was also fined $15,000 (£11.5k) – of which $10,000 (£7,700) was suspended.
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The doubles specialist won 14 tour level titles during his career, including the ATP Finals at London’s 02 Arena in 2013.
He formally announced his retirement at the 2022 Barcelona Open, but continued to play in the sport’s lower-rung Challenger and ITF events.
Marrero most recently took part in an M25 event in the Netherlands back in August, during which he lost in round one and earned $97 (£75) in prize money.
In addition to Marrero, Malek Jaziri has also been banned.
Jaziri, 41, peaked at No42 in the world singles rankings in 2019 and last played in 2023.
The ITIA confirmed: “41-year-old Tunisian Malek Jaziri, a former tennis player and current captain of the Tunisian Davis Cup team, has been suspended for nine months and fined $5,000 (£3,800) (of which $2,500 (£1,900) is suspended), after admitting to involvement in one breach of the TACP’s wildcard rules with Marrero.
“Jaziri’s period of ineligibility began on 28 October 2025 and will end on 27 July 2026.”
On the nature of Marrero and Jaziri’s respective bans, the ITIA added: “During their periods of ineligibility, Marrero and Jaziri are prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.”
