'Political statements not banned,' says ITF after Djokovic Kosovo row

International tennis chiefs insisted Wednesday that "political statements" are not banned at Grand Slam events after Novak Djokovic controversially wrote "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" on a camera at the French Open.

Djokovic defended his message in comments to Serb media, saying that Kosovo is Serbia's "cradle, our stronghold".

The International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body of the sport, said they had received a request from the Kosovo Tennis Federation demanding Djokovic be sanctioned over his actions.

However, they pointed out that such statements do not contravene regulations.

"Rules for player conduct at a Grand Slam event are governed by the Grand Slam rulebook, administered by the relevant organiser and regulator. There is no provision in this that prohibits political statements," an ITF spokesman told AFP.

Djokovic was criticised earlier Wednesday for his comments about recent clashes in Kosovo by French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera who said he "shouldn't get involved".

The Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOC) accused Djokovic of "stirring up" political tensions, a spokesman told AFP.

Djokovic "breached the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter regarding political neutrality and involved yet another political statement in sports", the KOC wrote in a letter sent to the IOC on Tuesday.

KOC head Ismet Krasniqi sought that the IOC initiates disciplinary proceedings against Djokovic, said the letter posted on its Facebook.

Such "behaviour cannot be tolerated as it sets a dangerous precedent that sports can be used as a platform for political messages, agendas and propaganda", the letter quoted Krasniqi as saying.

Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina said Djokovic, who returns to the court later Wednesday