Israel Stroh Suspended Four Years for Betting in Polish Para Open

Israel Pereira Stroh, a Brazilian Paralympic silver medallist, has been ruled ineligible for competition until 26 June 2029 after the International Table Tennis Federation’s Tribunal upheld integrity findings that tied him to corrupt conduct and betting around the Polish Para Open 2024.

"The ITTF Tribunal Panel upheld findings by the ITTF Integrity Unit against para table tennis athlete Israel Pereira Stroh, concluding he engaged in corrupt conduct related to the Polish Para Open 2024 Men’s Doubles Class MD14 final (29 March 2024)." According to the ITTF, "the trial took place on December 26, 2025." The federation’s integrity investigators flagged a series of wagers and conduct leading up to the MD14 final, saying "the federation's Integrity Unit pointed to corrupt conduct prior to the men's doubles final of the MD14 class of the ITTF Polish Para Open 2024 and 68 bets placed between March 2022 and April 2024."

The disciplinary penalty was calculated as two years of ineligibility for each infraction, producing a four year sanction before credit for time already served. "The penalty imposed was two years of ineligibility for each infraction, minus the six months of provisional suspension already served. Thus, Stroh is suspended until June 26, 2029." That computation implies the tribunal started its ineligibility period with the December 26, 2025 ruling and applied a six month provisional suspension credit against the sentence.

Stroh’s legal team has responded by filing an appeal and asking for the tribunal ruling to be stayed pending that process. "On the 15th, the player requested a suspension of the ruling until the appeal is judged." The ITTF, however, has maintained that "the decision remains in effect until the conclusion of the trial, but will only be published after the process is finished." The exact body handling the appeal and any timetable for its resolution have not been specified in the materials released so far.

Born in Santos, Israel Stroh participated in the last three editions of the Paralympic Games and won the silver medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He started in the sport while still in school and, since 2013, has represented Brazil in international competitions in more than 30 countries. The suspension removes Stroh from the international circuit for a substantial period, affecting team selection, rankings, and future Paralympic cycles.

For players, coaches, and tournament organizers, the case underscores that integrity monitoring and betting scrutiny extend into para events and doubles play. Expect the ITTF to publish the full tribunal text once the appeal process concludes; that document will be key for understanding the nature of the corrupt conduct the Integrity Unit says it uncovered and how betting patterns were linked to on-court behaviour. For now, the immediate consequence is clear: Israel Pereira Stroh is sidelined until mid 2029 pending the outcome of his appeal.