LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — French tennis player Mathieu Montcourt's suspension for betting on matches was reduced Thursday from eight to five weeks.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said the 24-year-old Montcourt bet a total of $192 (€142) on 36 different tennis events, though not on his own matches or at tournaments where he was playing.
The CAS panel cited "the small amounts gambled (and) the absence of influence of the bets on the matches in question."
The court ordered the 135th-ranked Montcourt to serve a ban of five weeks starting July 6, which would allow him to enter Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Montcourt appealed to CAS against the eight-week suspension imposed by the ATP Tour last August, which forced him to give up a wild card invitation to play at the U.S Open.
The tour found he had placed online wagers on matches played between June and September 2005.
The suspension was delayed until the appeal process was completed.
The court rejected Montcourt's claim that he was unaware of the rules outlawing players from betting on matches. He must still pay a fine of $12,000 (€8,850).
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