Israel Pereira Stroh (Photo by Gaël Marziou)
Former Paralympics silver medallist Israel Pereira Stroh has been suspended for four years for corrupt conduct by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
The ITTF Tribunal Panel has issued the decision based on the independent ITTF Integrity Unit’s decision that Stroh was in breach of the ITTF Code of Ethics and that he was conducted corruptly before the Polish Para Open 2024 Men’s Doubles Class MD14 Final played.
He was also found to have been betting extensively on table tennis matches, with 68 bets placed on matches between March 2022 and April 2024.
The 40-year-old Brazilian won Pan American championships gold in 2013 and was the first Brazilian player to win a medal in a singles event.
He used to be a sports journalist who worked for Lance! before he started playing table tennis competitively
The sanctions handed down by the Panel included a two years for corrupt conduct and a further 2-year period of ineligibility for each betting violation, to be served simultaneously.
Therefore, a total period of ineligibility of 4 years was deemed proportionate, with credit being given for the 6 months of provisional suspension already served being deducted.
Stroh suspension from the sport will run until 26th June 2029.
Stroh had in August 2024 issued a Statement of Appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appealing the provisional suspension and requesting urgent provisional measures given the proximity to the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.
Later the same day the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division issued an Order on an ‘ex-parte’ basis lifting the provisional suspension which saw Stroh taking part at the Paris Paralympics.
However, in January 2025, having considered the matter on the basis of the parties’ written submissions, a three-person CAS Panel issued an Arbitral Award dismissed Stroh’s appeal against the provisional suspension and ordered the stay to cease to have effect. The 6-month provisional suspension imposed by the ITTF Integrity Board recommenced.
Earlier this month Stroh filed a Statement of Appeal with the CAS, including a Request for Provisional Measures seeking an order from CAS to stay the suspension until an arbitral Panel has ruled on the appeal.
The appealed decision remains in full force and effect pending the determination of the appeal, although as part of his appeal Stroh has also filed a Request for Provisional Measures with the CAS to stay the period of ineligibility (suspension).
