Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley get lifetime bans in match-fixing case

Slovenia's Kolar, a former Top 200 player, and Riley, from the U.S., committed a combined 40 offenses from 2015-20, per the International Tennis Integrity Agency.

By Associated PressPublished June 21, 2023

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Nastja Kolar of Slovenia plays a forehand in her first round juniors match against Anaeve Pain of France during day seven of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) — © 2011 Getty Images

LONDON (AP) — Tennis players Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley were banned from the sport for life and fined as part of a match-fixing case, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said Wednesday.

Kolar, a 28-year-old Slovene, committed 25 offenses from 2015-20 and was fined $175,000. Riley, an American, committed 15 offenses in the same period and was fined $50,000.

The ITIA said the penalties reflected "the depth and significance of these breaches, which included contriving aspects of matches, wagering, facilitating wagering, courtsiding, conspiracy, and failing to report corrupt approaches."

Courtsiding is a prohibited practice which involves transmission of live scoring data from a match to a third party for betting purposes.

📰 Nastja Kolar and Alexandra Riley have been banned from tennis for life following multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.
— International Tennis Integrity Agency (@itia_tennis) June 21, 2023

The agency said "neither player showed any contrition or remorse for their actions."

Kolar's WTA ranking peaked inside the Top 200 for both singles and doubles; Riley's singles ranking reached No. 691 in 2015.