Tennis legend Ilie Nastase had an extremely unpleasant weekend during the Fed Cup tie between Romania and team GB after he called both Konta and Keothavong “a bitch” multiple times. After this incident, Nastase, that was the captain for Romania, was sent off and the tie was temporarily suspended after Jo Konta was left in tears.

The day before, the Romanian made an unfortunate joke about Serena Williams’ unborn child when he said “Let’s see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?” This comment came just hours before he made some advances to the GB captain Anne Keothavong.

The official communicate

The ITF Internal Adjudication Panel has issued its decision in the case against Romanian Fed Cup Captain Ilie Nastase.

Mr Nastase was found guilty of breaching Articles a.ii.a, a.iii.a, a.iii.b, a.iv.c and a.v.b of the Fed Cup Welfare Policy under the 2017 ITF Fed Cup Regulations during the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas tie between Romania and Great Britain in Constanta in April.

Specifically:

– Mr Nastase made a comment about Serena Williams’s unborn child that was highly inappropriate and racially insensitive in breach of the Introduction to the Welfare Policy, and Article a.v.b;

– Mr Nastase made advances of a sexual nature towards Anne Keothavong, the Captain of the Great Britain team, in breach of Article a.iv.c;

– Mr Nastase made abusive and threatening comments to a member of the accredited press, in breach of Article a.iii.b;

– Mr Nastase made abusive and threatening comments to the match officials and to members of the Great Britain team, refused to leave the court, and deliberately interfered with the opposing team in breach of Articles a.ii.a, a.iii.a, a.iii.b and a.v.b.

The ITF Internal Adjudication Panel imposed the following sanctions on Mr Nastase:

– Mr Nastase is suspended from acting in an official capacity (including, but not limited to, team Captain) in all Official ITF Team Competitions included under Bye-Law 2.1(a) of the ITF Constitution, individual competitions included under Bye-Law 2.2(2), and Official ITF Tennis Circuits included under Bye-Law 2.2(3) from 23 April 2017 (the date on which he was provisionally suspended) until 31 December 2020.

– Mr Nastase shall be denied access to, and not granted accreditation for, the competitions and circuits described above from 23 April 2017 until 31 December 2018. Grand Slam tournaments are not included within the sanction, as they lie outside the jurisdiction of the ITF.

– Mr Nastase is fined a sum of US$10,000.

Mr Nastase and the Romanian Tennis Federation each have 21 days to appeal the decision to an Independent Tribunal.

The ITF Internal Adjudication Panel consists of representatives of a committee whose members are appointed by the ITF Board of Directors. It is empowered to hear breaches of ITF regulations, including the Fed Cup Welfare Policy. The Fed Cup Welfare Policy can be viewed on page 73 of the 2017 ITF Fed Cup Regulations.