WTA chief says Russia, Belarus tennis players should not be banned from tournaments because of politics

Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) chief Steve Simon says players should not be banned from tournaments because of politics. As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian tennis players are not allowed to play under their country’s name or flag and cannot play in team competition. Ad/> The WTA and ATP combined event in Moscow in October has been suspended while all International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in Russia and Belarus have been cancelled.

Wimbledon menMinister: Medvedev may need to denounce Putin to avoid Wimbledon ban19 HOURS AGO Athletes in other sports, such as athletics, have banned individual Russians and Belarusians from appearing in competitions. Simon believes players from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to continue playing on the tennis tour. «You never know what the future may bring,» Simon told BBC Sport.

«But I can tell you that we have never banned athletes from participating on our tour as the result of political positions their leadership may take. »So it would take something very, very significant for that to change, but again we don't know where this is going." Minister: Medvedev may need to denounce Putin to avoid Wimbledon ban Why is Medvedev losing No. 1 ranking and how can he get it back in Miami? Simon says their stance would have to change should governments ban Russian or Belarusian players from entering a country.

«It will force us to change our position, because obviously we have to follow the rules of government,» he continued. «I feel very, very strongly that again these individual athletes should not be the ones that are being penalised by the decisions of an authoritarian leadership that is obviously doing terrible, reprehensible things. »But if