Italy's Alessio di Mauro has been banned for nine months and fined $60,000 for betting on matches by the ATP, the governing body for men's tennis.
The 31-year-old is the first player to be penalised under the Anti-Corruption Programme of the ATP after he was found to have bet on matches between 2 November 2006 and 12 June 2007.
A statement from the ATP said they wanted 'a longer suspension' but added that there was no evidence that the world number 124 either bet on his own matches or 'attempted to affect the outcome of any matches'.
'This ruling underlines the ATP's stated policy of not tolerating players, associates or staff gambling on tennis,' said Gayle David Bradshaw, the ATP's Administrator of Rules and Competition.
Di Mauro, who reached a career high 68 ranking in February this year, has earned $579,034 in prize money since turning professional.
His best result was finishing runner-up in Buenos Aires this year.
