The head of men’s tennis would ban players for life if they are caught fixing matches.

ATP president Etienne de Villiers said here on Friday that tennis was being seriously threatened by match-fixing and gambling syndicates. Some players have said they turned down money to lose matches.

“It’s definitely a threat and we take it very, very seriously and the more you can do to tackle it the better it will be,” he said.

De Villiers said that tennis players who are found guilty of doping should be allowed back after serving their punishment. Anyone found guilty of deliberately losing, however, would be thrown out for good.

“I would draw the distinction with doping,” he said. “We know there are a number of reasons why people get into trouble. A lot of it comes down to accidental or third party influences.

“We have taken the view that also society takes, that you are allowed to make a mistake, you will serve your punishment but come back into society. The punishment should fit the crime.”

De Villiers said the same could not be said for anyone who throws a match, especially for financial gain. “Where it comes down to match-fixing we are categoric. There is no excuse for that,” he said. “You are undermining the integrity of the sport, you are destroying a level playing field. As far as we are concerned in tennis, if they are involved in match-fixing they will be thrown out.”

The threat of match-fixing in tennis emerged after a match in Poland in August.