Lleyton Hewitt Faces Two-Week Ban, $30,000 Fantastic for Pushing Anti-Doping Official

Australia’s Davis Cup skipper and tennis nice Lleyton Hewitt has been suspended for 2 weeks and fined $30,000 after a confrontation with a 60-year-old anti-doping volunteer.

The sanction got here from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) as a result of allegations of offensive habits throughout Australia’s defeat to Italy of their Davis Cup semi-final in Malaga, Spain, on November 23, 2024.

Lleyton Hewitt Suspended for Offensive Conduct

According to Sporting News, Hewitt is suspended from taking up any responsibility associated to tennis, equivalent to his job as coach and captain of the Davis Cup crew. He is accused of bodily shoving the volunteer anti-doping chaperone, an incident reportedly captured on video and supported by witness statements.

Although charged with the offence, Hewitt protested the accusation utilizing the plea of self-defence. Nonetheless, an unbiased tribunal led by Michael Heron KC turned down this defence as Hewitt’s actions had been deemed “not reasonable and proportionate.”

The tribunal sustained the cost of offensive behaviour and issued the tremendous along with suspending him.

Tribunal’s Decision Regarding the Incident

The ITIA clarified that the suspension adopted a radical investigation, together with video footage, witness interviews, and depositions. The tribunal rejected Hewitt’s self-defense declare, figuring out that his habits was unacceptable, significantly given the very important function anti-doping volunteers play in sustaining the integrity of the game.

The delay in arriving on the last ruling was attributed to the tribunal’s makes an attempt to honor Hewitt’s plea for a listening to in individual in Sydney, which was held in July.

In order to not intervene along with his Davis Cup obligations, the tribunal postponed the start of the suspension till Sept. 24 in order that Hewitt might, in any case, play for Australia’s subsequent match in opposition to Belgium in Sydney. Up so far, no enchantment has been filed by Hewitt.

ITIA’s Strong Denunciation of Hewitt’s Conduct

The ITIA’s chief govt, Karen Moorhouse, denounced Hewitt’s habits firmly:

Anti-doping personnel play a elementary function behind the scenes in upholding the integrity of tennis. And they need to have the ability to go about their roles with out concern of bodily contact. In this case, that line was clearly crossed, and we had no different possibility however to take motion.

Hewitt’s Legacy

Hewitt, a Wimbledon and US Open winner, remains to be an iconic determine in tennis. He was the youngest participant in historical past to grow to be World No. 1 when he achieved this feat at 20 years outdated. Though his profession has been incomparable, Hewitt has had a number of on-court incidents that stained his popularity as a hot-headed competitor.

While Hewitt is serving his suspension, the Australian Davis Cup crew is making preparations for his or her match in opposition to Belgium at Ken Rosewall Arena.