Mexican tennis player Daniel Garza banned for 6 months after being found guilty of match-fixing

Mexican tennis player Daniel Garza has been banned for six months and given a fine of $5,000 (£4,060) after being found guilty of a match fixing charge. The ban was given by Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) after they found sufficient evidence that Garza attempted to influence matches.

The TIU found that the Mexican had 'attempted to influence the outcome of a tennis match at the ITF USA Futures 11 tournament in Calabasas, California in March earlier this year. According to reports, Garza did not play the tournament, but no further details were given.

The TIU had conducted the investigation on 12 September into the alleged allegation before the independent anti-corruption unit officer Richard H Mclaren hearing the case in Miami. The Mexican player was found guilty of breaching section D.1.d of the tennis anti-corruption program which states: "No covered person shall, directly or indirectly contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any event."

"The suspension applies with immediate effect and means he is excluded from competing in, or attending, any tournament or event organized or sanctioned by the governing bodies of the sport", the TIU was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

The 31-year-old is a relatively unknown on the tennis circuit and is currently ranked 1,065 in men's singles ATP rankings and reached a career-high spot in 2012 when he was ranked 294. Garza has represented his home country, Mexico eight times with the highlight of his career being his win over Pablo Cuevas during Mexico's 2008 Davis Cup tie against Uruguay.

The TIU was set up in 2008 by the Grand Slam Board, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP and the WTA to fight corruption in sport.