Tennis leaders set to be called before Parliament panel investigating match-fixing controversy

The match-fixing scandal that has cast a shadow on the tennis world is headed to Parliament, according to a report by the English newspaper The Telegraph.

A report by the BBC and BuzzFeed revealed that for years, tennis authorities have had evidence of widespread match fixing at major tournaments but have done little about the allegations and have allowed top-ranked players believed to be involved to continue playing without any sanctions.

Those findings will be at the center of hearings Parliament plans to announce, according to the Telegraph. Such hearings would be held by the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, The Telegraph reported.

Among those who could be called to hearings include those involved in the Tennis Integrity Unit and ATP head Chris Kermode.

The TIU was set up to monitor fair play after the 2008 investigation that is heavily mentioned in the BBC-BuzzFeed report. Since its inception, the TIU has disciplined 13 low-ranking male players and banned five players for fixing.

The committee's hearings could also include the names of players mentioned in leaked documents, the Telegraph reports, but it's possible those names could be kept private, as has been done before in sporting inquiries, according to The Telegraph.

Although the report by the BBC and Buzzfeed did not name any players, current tennis players were asked about the scandal.

Men's No. 1 Novak Djokovic said that in 2007, he refused a $200,000 offer to lose a first-round match in Russia.

"It made me feel terrible because I don't want to be anyhow linked to this kind of -- you know, somebody may call it an opportunity," Djokovic said. "For me, that's an act of unsportsmanship, a crime in sport, honestly. I don't support it. I think there is no room for it in any sport, especially in tennis."

Roger Federer, who is seeded third at the Australian Open, said he wants those responsible to be made public.

"I would love to hear names," Federer said. "Then, at least, it's concrete stuff, and you can actually debate about it. Was it the player? Was it the support team? Who was it? Was it before? Was it a doubles player, a singles player? Which slam? It's so all-over-the-place. It's nonsense to answer something that is pure speculation. Like I said, it's super serious, and it's super important to maintain the integrity of our sport. So how high up does it go?"