Federer says he has asked IMG chief about betting allegation

NEW YORK/PARIS - Tennis champion Roger Federer has reportedly approached sports and media conglomerate IMG for clarifications on his role in allegations of a breach of contract filed against Theodore J. Forstmann, one of the founding partners of Forstmann Little and Company, a private equity firm, and chairman and CEO of IMG.

Agate Printing, Inc. is suing Forstmann, 70, in Los Angeles County Superior Court for fraud, interference with contract and breach of contract.

In the complaint, Jim Agate, the head of Agate Printing, is seeking extensive damages for lost business that he claims Forstmann promised him?

Agate also contends that he served as a conduit for hundreds of bets totaling millions of dollars that Forstmann placed on sporting events, including the 2007 French Open final, which Federer lost to Rafael Nadal.

Federer, the Swiss star who is in Paris for this week’s BNP Paribas Masters event, has denied that he was aware that Forstmann was betting on that 2007 match and denied any involvement with gambling.

“I would never do such a thing.” Federer, whose agent, Tony Godsick, works for IMG.

He said he has contacted Forstmann for clarification after learning of the lawsuit.

“I reached out and told him I want to know everything about it, how this came about,” Federer said.

“And he’s been, you know, nice enough obviously to tell me from his side and has been very open in the press already. So that’s O.K. He’s not my agent. Tony is my guy, but still, it’s a firm that does a lot in sports, so it’s just something that for me is important to know what is going on from their side, too,” he added.

According to the New York Times, Forstmann has acknowledged betting on Federer to win the 2007 French Open final and of gambling on sports in general.

But he has rejected the claims in the lawsuit, questioned Jim Agate’s credibility and denied receiving inside information from Federer. (ANI)