Italian tennis stars banned

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The Italian Tennis Federation (FIT) confirmed the news on its website, www.federtennis.it, on Saturday.

The country's top player Starace - 31st in the ATP rankings - has been suspended for six weeks from January 1 and fined US dollars 30,000 (20,890 euros) for making five bets totalling around 90 euros two years ago.

Bracciali has been banned for three months and fined US dollars 20,000 (13,930 euros) for making around 50 five-euro bets between 2004 and 2005.

Bracciali, 29, claims he and Starace have been hung out to dry because they are not big names.

"We were the sacrificial lambs. That is why they have got upset with us," Bracciali told www.federtennis.it.

"We are not champions and we are not important at a high level. But I cannot believe that we Italians were the only ones that placed the odd little bet.

"The regulations of the ATP lend themselves to numerous interpretations of the rule 'not necessary to bet on tennis'.

"Plus, if I had wanted to be sly I certainly wouldn't place bets in my own name."