ATP to investigate Murray corruption claims

The governing body of men's tennis (ATP) is to investigate British number one Andy Murray's claims that corruption is rife in tennis.

"We have asked Andy Murray, through his agent, for a meeting as soon as possible to discuss the claims," an ATP spokesman said.

This week, Murray said players were aware that matches on the ATP Tour were being thrown.

"It is pretty disappointing for all the players, but everyone knows that it goes on," the Scot, who is in Moscow for the Kremlin Cup, said.

"It's difficult to prove. They can try their best until the last games in each set and then make some mistakes, hit a couple of double faults and that's it."

In order to crack down on such rumours, the ATP said players would have 48 hours to tell the governing body if they are approached to throw a match or risk punishment if they fail to do so.

Two weeks ago little-known Belgian Gilles Elseneer said he was offered 100,000 euros to throw a first-round Wimbledon match in 2005 but the authorities were not aware of this incident until it hit the headlines last month.

"Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and the ATP has shown that it will act where it has information which requires investigation," the ATP spokesman added.