Tennis Addresses Twitter Concerns Regarding Online Gambling
The division created by tennis authorities to oversee the sport and guard against gambling corruption has told players to be cautious in their use of Twitter, the open posting site. Officials have banned tweeting, the use of Twitter, on the courts, and advise tennis industry participants that tweeting can be a violation of rules against corruption and online gambling.Signs are posted this week at the US Open saying, "Important. Player Notice. Twitter Warning,” according to a report by the New York Times. Authorities want to make sure players, coaches, and officials all are clear on tennis policies regarding the passing of information about matches and player conditions.
Not only is Twitter barred from ongoing matches, but warnings also say the passing of sensitive or insider information would be considered against rules. Any notice of match conditions which are not publicly available, such as players' circumstances and health, court conditions, and even weather may be treated as a violation of the strict corruption policies.
Tennis has suffered several scandal rumors and setbacks in public confidence after admissions of gambling by some players followed rumors of fixed matches all the way to the top levels of the sport. Tennis bodies united to form the Tennis Integrity Unit, whose purpose is to guard against corrupting influences and police players to isolate them from online gambling factors.
Tennis becomes the first sport to warn against Twitter as a possible aid to online gambling. Considering the crazed paranoia in the US by the NFL and other sports leagues, other sports may be expected to follow soon.
