Ilie Nastase banned by ITF over Fed Cup tirade

Ilie Nastase was in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) dock for his abusive behaviour as Romania’s Fed Cup captain in a tie with Britain in Bucharest in April. He has been banned from all ITF competitions until December 2020 and fined $10,000 (8,588 euros).

The International Tennis Federation on Friday banned and fined Ilie Nastase over derogatory comments about Serena Williams and a foul-mouthed Fed Cup tirade.

Ilie Nastase, the two-time Grand Slam winner, has been banned from all ITF competitions until December 2020. (Twitter)

The Romanian tennis great was in the ITF dock for his abusive behaviour as Romania’s Fed Cup captain in a tie with Britain in Bucharest in April.

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The two-time Grand Slam winner is banned from all ITF competitions until December 2020, excluded from all ITF competitions excluding Grand Slams until December 2018, and fined $10,000 (8,588 euros).

The controversial 71-year-old was sensationally kicked out of the Fed Cup tie in the Romanian capital on the second day for his irrational conduct.

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On the opening day he was overheard making derogatory remarks about US superstar Serena Williams’s pregnancy.

“Let’s see what colour it (the baby) has. Chocolate with milk?,” he said in Romanian, remarks then reported widely internationally, including by a British female reporter who he then berated, describing her as “stupid” and “ugly”.

On the Saturday he was escorted from the Constanta venue after swearing at the umpire as well as the British skipper and a visiting player.

He was heard to call pregnant captain Anna Keovathong and British number one Johanna Konta “fucking bitches”.