Becker says ‘diplomatic passport’ is genuine

Former tennis champion Boris Becker said yesterday he has a genuine diplomatic passport from the Central African Republic after the country’s foreign minister called it a fake.

Becker, 50, has claimed diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings in London by taking up a role with Central African Republic as a sports envoy.

The country’s foreign minister said last week a copy of the diplomatic passport he had seen was a “clumsy fake” and was launching an inquiry into who issued the document.

But Becker told the BBC that he received the passport at an official ceremony.

“I don’t know what is internally happening within the politics of Central Africa Republic, but I have received the passport from the ambassador,” he said.

“I have spoken to the president on many occasions. It was an official inauguration. I believe the documents they have given me must be right.”

Becker claims he was approached by the Central African Republic’s president in February with the offer to become a diplomat and in April he was appointed an attaché to the European Union for sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs.