Hewitt to appeal two-week tennis ban for alleged ‘push’
Darren Walton and Ian Chadband |
Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt is planning to appeal after being hit with a fine and a ban for “offensive conduct” during an overseas tie.
Hewitt has been allowed to lead Australia in this weekend’s second-round qualifying tie against Belgium in Sydney despite allegedly pushing a volunteer doping control official against a wall last year.
The 44-year old grand slam great was on Wednesday handed a two-week suspension and $30,000 fine after being found guilty by an independent tribunal of pushing the 60-year-old anti-doping chaperone in an incident following Australia’s 2024 semi-final loss to Italy in Malaga.
The tribunal recommended one-third of the fine received by the ITIA should be paid on to the chaperone “in compensation for the stress, discomfort and embarrassment of the incident.”
The official has since said he will never volunteer at a tie again, with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) saying that would “represent a tangible loss to the anti-doping programme.”
The ITIA had pushed for a heavier sanction, asking for a four-week suspension and a $US25,000 ($A37,500) fine, with the tribunal agreeing “there was no apology or check on the well being of the chaperone” and “a lack of remorse from Mr. Hewitt”.
The Agency also asked for Hewitt’s “poor disciplinary record, including five prior incidents of offensive conduct toward tennis officials and non compliance with tennis rules” to be taken into account, as well as his conduct during the hearing which it said had been “obstructive and inappropriate”.
Hewitt denied the charge and cited self-defence, but the tribunal upheld it, saying his behaviour was “not reasonable and proportionate”.
The Australian on Thursday said he never gave any consideration to stepping aside for this week’s tie.
“I’m just really disappointed about the overall decision, but also whole process, to be honest. The lack of facts that have been put out,” said the former world No.1.
“But I’ll be going through the appeal process with my legal team so I won’t be talking about it further.”
The tribunal rejected the ITIA’s primary case that Hewitt’s “push was unprovoked and born out of anger or irritation from the loss against Italy”.
But with Australia-Belgium this Saturday and Sunday, the tribunal’s chair Michael Heron said they did not want to be “unduly punitive” on Hewitt by impacting his Davis Cup schedule.
The tribunal also wanted to give Hewitt time to appeal against the verdict, if he wanted.
His suspension will start in two weeks time, lasting from September 24 until October 7. Hewitt won’t be allowed to take part “in all tennis-related activities, including coaching, mentoring, playing, captaincy and other associated roles” during that fortnight.
“Anti-doping personnel play a fundamental role behind the scenes in upholding the integrity of tennis, and they should be able to go about their roles without fear of physical contact,” ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse said in a statement.
“In this case, that line was clearly crossed, and we had no other option but to take action.”
The incident happened when both Hewitt and the anti-doping chaperone were in the same crowded corridor tribunal and had made contact.
The tribunal accepted Hewitt had been recovering from a medical condition, which he said had prompted him to push away the official, who he didn’t know was a chaperone, when there was contact between them.
But the tribunal found that the push was “too strong or forceful and was excessive or disproportionate” and that “there were other options available”.
In Hewitt’s defence, it was noted “his distinguished 25-year career is marked by exemplary professionalism and commitment to tennis, and he’s expressed genuine regret for the incident and bears no animosity towards the chaperone.
AAP
