The International Tennis Federation has imposed a fine of 820,000 pounds (one million euros) on its British counterpart for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from grass tournaments. The British Tennis Association (LTA) has banned singles athletes from the Grand Slam, Wimbledon, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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The International Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said in April that the association’s unilateral decision was unacceptable and could set a precedent for further disqualification of tennis players on the basis of nationality. The LTA reacts angrily to the fine. According to the FA, “The League does not sufficiently recognize the exceptional circumstances caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.
The UK government stands firmly behind the British Union. British Sports Minister Michelle Donnellan said on Wednesday that the UK had taken a “leading role” in building “this international response”. According to Donnellan, “Sport clearly cannot be used to justify a deadly invasion, and athletes representing the Russian and Belarusian nations should be banned from tournaments in other countries.”
Russian athletes and teams have also been banned from participating in other major sporting events, such as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany, and Belarus is not exempt from these tournaments. The country has not yet sent any soldiers to Ukraine, but it is serving as an invasion platform for the Russian military.
