TIU appoints senior legal director

The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has appointed Ben Rutherford to the position.

UK.- The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has appointed World Rugby’s legal counsel and integrity manager Ben Rutherford as its new senior legal director.

Rutherford joined World Rugby in 2010 and has been responsible for establishing the organisation’s integrity programme.

Previously, he worked as a solicitor at the law firm DLA Piper and acted as an associate at the Australian Supreme Court. He will join the London-based TIU in December. 

He said: “I have had a fantastic eleven years at World Rugby and I’m extremely proud of the work I’ve done there. It is fascinating to be at the start of a new journey in tennis with the formation of the ITIA and I can’t wait to begin.”

TIU chief executive, Jonny Gray, said: “Ben is a global expert in anti-corruption and anti-doping in sport and has achieved great things within world rugby.

“We are thrilled that he will be joining us as we start on a new chapter for integrity in sport.”

The TIU will rebrand as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) from January 1.

The ITIA will begin to oversee the enforcement of betting integrity in tennis in 2021. Doping will then be added to its remit in 2022.

The agency is expected to release its new logo and branding soon.

It recently appointed Adrian Bassett as head of communications to replace Mark Harrision, who has retired after 11 years at the organisation.

Earlier this month bookmakers raised the alarm over a series of suspicious bets on a French Open match.