The tennis world association ITF has minimally reduced the ban on Romania’s idol Ilie Nastase after his appeal, but has doubled its fine.
According to a decision of an independent arbitral tribunal, the 71-year-old is deprived of his seat until 31 December 2009. December only until 23. April 2020 and will be suspended for all official functions worldwide until April 23,2020. No more accreditations for ITF events in April 2018. However, ATP, WTA and Grand Slam tournaments are not affected.
Nastase has to pay a fine of 20,000 US dollars (approximately 17,000 euros). The former world number one had been severely punished in his role as captain of the Romanian women’s team after his losses at the Fed Cup home game against Britain (3-2) in April 2017.
A journalist had listened to the two-time Major-Champion about the unborn baby of the pregnant top player Serena Williams (USA) saying:”Let’s see what colour it is: chocolate with milk?” One day later Nastase insulted the guests during the match between his player Sorana Cirstea and the Brit Johanna Kontakt (“Fucking Bitches”) and then the referee.
Nastase had originally announced that he would withdraw from tennis in the event of a tennis ban, but then took legal action against the sanction. Before that, he had publicly apologized for his behavior.