The ITF Appeal Panel has cut Denis Pitner's ban from 10 to six years ©ITF

Croatian umpire Denis Pitner has had his 10-year ban from tennis cut to six by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Appeal Panel, it has been announced.

Pitner was handed the decade-long ban in April after he was found guilty of offences under the ITF code of conduct for officials but it has now been reduced by four years.

It had been revealed that he had sent details about a player's well-being to a coach during a tournament, while it was also alleged he had logged on to a betting account from which wagers were placed on tennis matches.

Pitner, who was one of two umpires who were seemingly banned in secret from the game for betting offences, was handed a 12-month sanction in August 2015.

Despite the ban, he then went on to officiate as a line judge in that month’s US Open.

The United States Tennis Association blamed a “flaw in our process” for his accreditation not being cancelled.

Additionally, Pinter was accused of misrepresenting to the Qatar Tennis Federation that he held the certification to officiate at the Qatar Open earlier this year.

He was also found guilty of receiving payment for officiating at the 2016 Qatar Open at the rate applicable for a white badge official, the status in which an official is ITF certified.

Denis Pitner officiated at the 2015 US Open despite the fact he was suspended at the time
Denis Pitner officiated at the 2015 US Open despite the fact he was suspended at the time ©Getty Images

Pitner appealed the suspension, claiming he was “given assurances by the ITF and the Croatian Tennis Federation that he remained eligible to act as a Line Judge at the 2015 US Open”.

The ITF Appeal Panel verdict also said Pitner “had a genuinely-held belief that, despite the suspension of his White Badge, he still held the status of a White Badge official, albeit one with reduced entitlement and so did not misrepresent himself to the Qatar Event or to the LTA”.

“The Appeal Panel affirmed the decision of the Disciplinary Panel that Mr Pitner had: misrepresented his status as a White Badge official to the Qatar Tennis Federation and the Lawn Tennis Association; received payment at the rate applicable for a White Badge official while his White Badge was suspended,” an ITF statement read.

“However, the Appeal Panel determined that Mr Pitner did not breach the 2015 Code by failing to notify the USTA of the suspension of his White Badge certification.”

The ITF Appeal Panel ruled the six-year suspension would begin following the completion of his current one-year ban, which runs out on August 1 of this year.

He will be unable to return until after July 31, 2022.