ITF suspends Tunisia from 2014 Davis Cup

Cagliari (Italy), Nov 2 (IANS) The International Tennis Federation (ITF) Saturday unanimously voted to suspend Tunisia from the 2014 Davis Cup.

The ITF board of directors found that the Tunisian Tennis Federation (TTF) in breach of its constitution. The TTF had ordered player Malek Jaziri not to compete against Israel’s Amir Weintraub at the Tashkent Challenger in October.

ITF was not satisfied with the case put forward by TTF and suspended it. The decision was unanimous although ITF board member from Tunisia, Tarak Cherif, recused himself from the discussion and the vote.

The ITF constitution states that its members must preserve the integrity and independence of tennis and must carry out their objects and purposes without unfair discrimination on grounds of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age, sex or religion.

“There is no room for prejudice of any kind in sport or in society. The ITF board decided to send a strong message to the TTF that this kind of action will not be tolerated by any of our members,” said ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti.

“The board felt that suspension from Davis Cup would provide a good lesson for the federation and a fitting penalty for their unfortunate action.”