The Women’s Tennis Association has slapped Shamil Tarpischev with a $25,000 fine and banned him from any WTA involvement for a year, for his derogatory comments about Serena and Venus Williams.
The International Olympic Committee is also seeking an explanation from its Russian member, who has been widely condemned for calling Serena and Venus “the Williams brothers” on a Russian TV show.
The 18 time Grand Slam champion has since called him out on his comments, which she describes as “sexist, racist and bullying”.
The IOC has yet to decide whether to impose any sanction on its own, with a spokesman saying it plans to contact Tarpischev directly for a full explanation regarding his comments.
The WTA published a letter of apology from the Russian, who insisted the comments were intended as a joke.
Meanwhile, the International Tennis Federation says its very disappointed with his comments, which it says is inappropriate in any context, and have encouraged him to apologize immediately.
Tarpishev, 66, has been a member of the IOC since 1994. He is also President of the Russian Tennis Federation and captain of their Davis and Fed Cup Teams.
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