Tennis bad boy Ilie Nastase banned from Fed Cup and Davis Cup until 2019
Romanian has three weeks to appeal suspension imposed for foul-mouthed comments and ‘inappropriate actions’
Ilie Nastase has been banned from the Fed Cup and Davis Cup until 2019 because of his foul-mouthed comments and bad behaviour as Romania’s captain during a Fed Cup tie in April.
In addition to the ban, the International Tennis Federation said on Friday the 1973 French Open champion will not be able to work in an official capacity for a further two years, until 2021.
The 71-year-old Nastase was also fined US$10,000. He has three weeks to appeal the decision.
Reached by telephone, Nastase declined to comment, saying he wanted to consult his lawyer.
The ITF said: “Mr Nastase made a comment about Serena Williams’s unborn child that was highly inappropriate and racially insensitive.”
Nastase also “made advances of a sexual nature towards Anne Keothavong, the captain of the Great Britain team” and “made abusive and threatening comments to the match officials and to members of the Great Britain team”.
Although he will have to sit out ITF events, the ban does not apply to Grand Slam, ATP or WTA tournaments, which are not under the governing body’s jurisdiction.
Nastase was provisionally suspended in April after he speculated about the skin colour of the baby that Williams is expecting, and for outbursts during the tie against Britain.
He previously acknowledged making mistakes and having shortcomings, but stressed “the cause I fight for is tennis, the sport I really love, which I cannot separate from my life.”
As Fed Cup captain, Nastase hurled abuse at British player Johanna Konta, Keothavong, and the umpire. The referee ejected Nastase.
Nastase, a former top-ranked player, was barred from the French Open and was not invited to the Royal Box at Wimbledon, where he was a two-time finalist.
