‘NASTY’ BANNED FOR RACE RANT
ILIE NASTASE tried to defend his appalling antics during Romania’s Fed Cup tie with Great Britain by claiming race was not “as delicate an issue” in Romania.
But Romania’s Davis Cup captain has been hit with a three-year ban and a £7,700 fine after making a series of racist, sexist and foul-mouthed rants during April’s tie.
The controversial two-time Slam winner (below) has also been banned from acting in an official capacity at all ITF events until December 2020.
The 71-year-old is also barred from getting accreditation for any ITF event until the end of 2018.
The ITF have thrown the book at Nastase (below) after he lived up to his ‘Nasty’ nickname with outbursts aimed at Serena Williams, Anne Keothavong, Johanna Konta, a journalist and an umpire. Their sanctions do not extend to Grand Slams as they are outside ITF jurisdiction. But security guards at Wimbledon were warned not to let him in, while he was also banned from the French Open.
Nastase tried to argue racism was not such a sensitive issue in his homeland and defended himself against accusations he was racist by highlighting friendships with the late Arthur Ashe and Yannick Noah.
But his protests were dismissed and Nastase was said to have made “insensitive and unprofessional” remarks.