Post by kokka78 on Oct 12, 2007 23:10:22 GMT
Andy Murray has moved to explain comments he made earlier in the week that corruption was rife in the sport of tennis.
The British number one has been asked to meet with an ATP investigation over a statement on match fixing that: "It's pretty disappointing for all the players but everyone knows it goes on."
Murray has since taken criticism from top-five players Nikolay Davydenko and Rafael Nadal over the comments and has moved to clarify the remarks on his website.
"The comments that I made with regard to betting in tennis have been taken out of context and I would like to clarify them," said the 20-year-old Scot.
"When I said 'Everyone knows that it's going on' I meant that everyone has probably heard that three or four players have spoken out about being offered money to lose matches - which they refused."
The ATP is investigating match-fixing in the sport after unusual betting patterns occurred during a match between Davydenko and Argentina's Martin Vassallo Arguello in Poland two months ago.
Belgian Gilles Elseneer has since come forward claiming he was offered £69,000 to lose a match at Wimbledon in 2005 and the ATP have moved to make it a punishable offence to not tell the organisation within 48 of being offered a bribe.
Davydenko, who met recently with investigators and expects the inquiry to wrap up within a month, attacked Murray's remarks after reaching the quarter-finals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
"If Murray says that he knows, that means that he gambles himself because people who start talking out loud have their fears disappear," the Russian said.
"And they know that if they speak out loud it means that they are free, they have not done it.
"It was folly of him to say this."
The latest war of words came as officials from the four grand slams, the ATP, the WTA and the ITF met in London on Friday to discuss corruption in the sport.
The organisations promised to seek outside help in investigating the issue, but said in a joint statement: "[We] have full confidence in the integrity of our sport. Today's meeting reaffirmed tennis's unified approach to protecting that integrity."
"While we do not believe that our sport has a corruption problem we do recognise that a threat to the integrity of tennis exists."
Murray, scheduled to meet with ATP investigators in Spain next week during the Madrid Masters, said he was pleased that the issue was getting the attention it deserved.
"I am glad that the tennis governing bodies are coming together to set up an anti-corruption unit to address this and I stand fully behind this effort.
"Tennis has been a part of my entire life and it is a privilege to compete at the highest levels of the sport."
Eurosport.
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"If Murray says that he knows, that means that he gambles himself because people who start talking out loud have their fears disappear,"
Oh god this man is such an idiot!! he is the one under investigation for that and say this?Stupid!!!
Of course there are gambling like in other sports who brings lot of money!
The thing i cannot understand is how players like Nadal always escaped in time the anti doping tests!! Mmmm bit weird! i always thought he's dope and no one can make me change my mind at least once in his career hisdope himself!
i dnt think Murray said anything wrong he just said what he thinks like everyone else and if Davidenko's trying to bring attention on others cos he's too scared about what may happen to him thats another story.
Weird how the number 5 in the world doesn't have a sponsor maybe someone else's paying with some extras!
The British number one has been asked to meet with an ATP investigation over a statement on match fixing that: "It's pretty disappointing for all the players but everyone knows it goes on."
Murray has since taken criticism from top-five players Nikolay Davydenko and Rafael Nadal over the comments and has moved to clarify the remarks on his website.
"The comments that I made with regard to betting in tennis have been taken out of context and I would like to clarify them," said the 20-year-old Scot.
"When I said 'Everyone knows that it's going on' I meant that everyone has probably heard that three or four players have spoken out about being offered money to lose matches - which they refused."
The ATP is investigating match-fixing in the sport after unusual betting patterns occurred during a match between Davydenko and Argentina's Martin Vassallo Arguello in Poland two months ago.
Belgian Gilles Elseneer has since come forward claiming he was offered £69,000 to lose a match at Wimbledon in 2005 and the ATP have moved to make it a punishable offence to not tell the organisation within 48 of being offered a bribe.
Davydenko, who met recently with investigators and expects the inquiry to wrap up within a month, attacked Murray's remarks after reaching the quarter-finals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
"If Murray says that he knows, that means that he gambles himself because people who start talking out loud have their fears disappear," the Russian said.
"And they know that if they speak out loud it means that they are free, they have not done it.
"It was folly of him to say this."
The latest war of words came as officials from the four grand slams, the ATP, the WTA and the ITF met in London on Friday to discuss corruption in the sport.
The organisations promised to seek outside help in investigating the issue, but said in a joint statement: "[We] have full confidence in the integrity of our sport. Today's meeting reaffirmed tennis's unified approach to protecting that integrity."
"While we do not believe that our sport has a corruption problem we do recognise that a threat to the integrity of tennis exists."
Murray, scheduled to meet with ATP investigators in Spain next week during the Madrid Masters, said he was pleased that the issue was getting the attention it deserved.
"I am glad that the tennis governing bodies are coming together to set up an anti-corruption unit to address this and I stand fully behind this effort.
"Tennis has been a part of my entire life and it is a privilege to compete at the highest levels of the sport."
Eurosport.
_________________________________________________
"If Murray says that he knows, that means that he gambles himself because people who start talking out loud have their fears disappear,"
Oh god this man is such an idiot!! he is the one under investigation for that and say this?Stupid!!!
Of course there are gambling like in other sports who brings lot of money!
The thing i cannot understand is how players like Nadal always escaped in time the anti doping tests!! Mmmm bit weird! i always thought he's dope and no one can make me change my mind at least once in his career hisdope himself!
i dnt think Murray said anything wrong he just said what he thinks like everyone else and if Davidenko's trying to bring attention on others cos he's too scared about what may happen to him thats another story.
Weird how the number 5 in the world doesn't have a sponsor maybe someone else's paying with some extras!
