Italian Di Mauro investigated over betting

MILAN, Nov 9 (Reuters) Italy's Alessio Di Mauro is under investigation for betting on matches, the Italian Tennis Federation has said.

The world number 124, who made the first round of the French Open this year, could face a three-year ban and a large fine if found guilty of betting online.

''It is not excluded that Di Mauro will also receive Italian sanctions once information arrives from the ATP,'' Italian federation official Giancarlo Baccini told Italy's ANSA news service.

The ATP has yet to make a decision and has refused to comment while there is no suggestion that Di Mauro has bet on his own matches.

Tennis is cracking down on betting after a troubled period for the sport.

A match in August between Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and lowly-ranked Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello in Poland was voided by British online betting exchange Betfair because of unusual betting patterns.

Several players have since said they had turned down offers to throw a match in exchange of money.

REUTERS TB HS1606