ROME -- Alessio Di Mauro believes his nine-month ban for
betting on tennis is too severe and he's a scapegoat for the
match-fixing scandals surrounding the sport.
"The sentence is too harsh," Di Mauro said in Sunday editions
of Gazzetta dello Sport. "I made a silly mistake and I'm being
punished excessively. I could go down in history as the only player
banned for betting in tennis."
Di Mauro became the first player sanctioned under the ATP's new
anti-corruption rules on Saturday. The 124th-ranked Italian was
also fined $60,000 after it was determined he made 120 bets with an
online bookmaker from Nov. 2, 2006 through June 12, 2007.
Di Mauro, who faced a maximum ban of three years, is banned
through Aug. 12, 2008.
The investigation found none of the bets were on his matches or
no results were affected.
The 30-year-old Di Mauro has a 5-10 record this year and is
16-35 overall. He has earned $130,915 in prize money.
Asked if he was being used as a scapegoat, Di Mauro said: "I
think so, because match-fixing is much more serious than betting.
There's a big difference between someone who has a vice for betting
on many sports -- from soccer to basketball to volleyball and
sometimes also on tennis -- and someone who sells matches.
Match-fixing "is on the same level of doping, because it's a
lack of respect for everyone, from the opponent to the fans," Di
Mauro said. "I'm completely in good faith."
Di Mauro said he bet small amounts -- $15-to-$22 -- and lost
money. He didn't consult the ATP's betting regulations.
"I don't understand English that well," he said. "I was more
worried with the anti-doping rules and which substances were
banned. I suffer from allergies, but not to risk anything, I don't
take any drugs. Really, I didn't think I would ever get into
trouble for betting."