The father of Aussie tennis great Lleyton Hewitt has hit out at the sport’s international integrity body following his son’s controversial suspension and fine.
Hewitt, a former world No.1 who won two singles grand slams during a glittering career, has been banned for two weeks and fined $30,000 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
He was punished for an incident with an anti-doping volunteer during a tournament last year, when Hewitt is alleged to have shoved the 60-year-old man as he walked through a tunnel.
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Hewitt claims he didn’t know who the man was, and was trying to prevent him from touching him as the 44-year-old was recovering from abdominal surgery.
The ITIA handed down the ban due to Hewitt’s “poor disciplinary record, including five prior incidents of offensive conduct towards tennis officials and non-compliance with tennis rules”.
Hewitt was allowed to captain Australia at the Davis Cup in Sydney earlier this month, but his suspension officially began on Wednesday.
Lleyton Hewitt with his Wimbledon trophy alongside parents Cherilyn and Glynn. Bongarts/Getty Images
During a press event at the Davis Cup he flagged an appeal over the sanction, although that has been dropped.
But his father, Glynn, has now released a fiery statement through law firm WRP Legal.
“The ITF is a member of the ITIA, has representation on its board, requested attendance at the ‘independent’ tribunal and supplied witnesses for them,” Glynn said.
“It is well known that the ITF have been unhappy with Lleyton’s criticism of their management of the Davis Cup competition.
“From selling the rights to the company of a soccer player (Gerard Pique), completely changing the format, to them entering into an arrangement which allowed the company out of the deal.
“Their conduct changed the Davis Cup, built up over 100 years, to a shambolic example of its former self.
Lleyton Hewitt at a Davis Cup press conference at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. SMH
“The ITIA’s sole objective was to have Lleyton banned from performing his role as Davis Cup captain and to that extent they failed.
“It was decided not to appeal as there was a total lack of trust in the process that had been experienced to date and it would be tantamount to having the ITIA mark their own homework.
“We also expressed a desire that should any fines eventuate that they go to the Ken McGregor Tennis Foundation for junior players. This request was not taken up by the ITIA.”
In a statement to News Corp, the integrity body said it would only “urge people to read the full decision, which is available on the ITIA website”.
In a separate statement through WRP Legal a fortnight ago, the younger Hewitt claimed “manipulated video evidence” was used in the case against him.
Team Australia lost its Davis Cup tie to Belgium in Sydney.