India launch probe into match-fixing allegations
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India tennis authorities have launched an inquiry to find whether any of their Davis Cup players since 1996 had been approached by illegal bookmakers to lose matches.
The announcement came a day after doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi said he had spurned such an attempt.
"The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has taken a serious note of the revelation made by Mahesh Bhupathi in respect of Indian Davis Cup tie against Holland in February 1996," the AITA said in a statement.
"The AITA is very clear that Davis Cup is absolutely clean and no such incident has ever been heard of before or in the recent past in India.
"It is necessary for India as a nation to protect its image and integrity amongst the tennis playing nations of the world."
Bhupathi, who is competing at the Australian Open in Melbourne, said he turned down an approach to lose a match in the World Group tie at home where India upset the Dutch with the 33-year-old playing a leading role.
Any mention of match-fixing touches a raw nerve in India after a cricket corruption scandal erupted in 2000 and led to bans for some of the game's leading names.
AITA secretary Anil Khanna said the probe report would also be sent to the International Tennis Federation, the sport's governing body.
- Reuters
