Former doubles world No. 1 Peng Shuai was hit with a six-month suspension for violating tennis' anti-corruption code.
A former Wimbledon and Roland Garros doubles champion, Peng was found to have used coercion and a potential payoff to her partner in an effort to persuade her partner to officially withdraw from the 2017 Wimbledon doubles draw.
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Although the offer was refused and Peng Shuai did not subsequently compete at The Championships, the offer constituted a breach of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) which states that: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any event,” the Tennis Integrity Unit said.
Read the complete Tennis Integrity Unit decision in the case here.
The 32-year old Chinese is currently ranked 20 in doubles and 80 in singles.
Peng Shuai was the world No. 1 doubles player in February 2014 and has a career-best singles ranking of 14 achieved in August 2011.
In a companion ruling, Peng's former French coach, Bertrand Perret, was hit with a three-month suspension of credentials.