The Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has received a ban of two weeks and was fined 30,000 Australian dollars (£ 14,600) after he was found guilty of pushing a doping control officer.
Hewitt pushed a 60-year-old volunteer anti-doping chaperone after the semi-final of Australia in Davis Cup through Italy last November in Malaga, Spain.
The two-time winner of the Grand Slam Singles was sued in January for offensive behavior towards a doping control officer.
He denied the indictment – which was established by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after an evaluation of video certificate, witness statements and interviews – and mentioned self -defense.
However, the ITIA confirmed an independent tribunal on Wednesday and said that the actions of the 44-year-old “did not meet the requirements of self-defense” and the push was “too strong or powerful and was exaggerated or disproportionate”.
“I am just really disappointed about the general decision, but also the whole process to be honest, and the lack of facts that have been pronounced,” said Hewitt.
Hewitt, who won the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002, will be forbidden to participate in “all tennis -related activities” from 24 September to 7 October.
He will be able to captain Australia, while organizing Belgium in the second round of Davis Cup qualifications from 13-14 September in Sydney.
The chairman Michael Heron of the Tribunal said that they did not want the suspension to be “unnecessarily punished” by influencing his Davis Cup schedule.
Hewitt said before the event, that he appeals and “will not talk about it”.
He said he would not resign for the Davis Cup qualifications, and added: “In contrast to the ITIs and the ITF (International Tennis Federation), I will not make it a distraction for the Davis Cup. This competition means too much.
“I think it will make the boys even stronger to go outside and get the job done.”
ITIA director Karen Moorhouse said in a statement: “Anti-doping staff plays a fundamental role behind the scenes in maintaining the integrity of tennis and they should be able to continue their role without fear of physical contact.
“In this case that line was clearly crossed and we had no other option than taking action.”
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