ILIE Nastase has been handed a provisional suspension from the Fed Cup by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) – but that did not stop him brazenly walking back into Tenis Club IDU in Constanta yesterday.
The Romania captain was thrown out of the World Group II play-off against Great Britain on Saturday after an extraordinary meltdown that saw him hurl foul-mouthed abuse at the British team and journalists. He had his accreditation removed but, shortly after the home side had wrapped up victory in the tie, Nastase walked in through the main doors and along a corridor to the VIP lounge.
The ITF later confirmed Nastase was not allowed to be on site in any capacity and the Romanian Tennis Federation president subsequently said he had left.
An ITF statement read: “The ITF’s Internal Adjudication Panel has issued Ilie Nastase with a provisional suspension under the Fed Cup regulations for a breach of the Fed Cup welfare policy at the tie in Constanta.
“Under the terms of the provisional suspension, Nastase may not participate in the Fed Cup in any capacity with immediate effect and shall be denied access to, and accreditation for, any ITF event including Fed Cup.
“The investigation by the Internal Adjudication Panel is ongoing. No further comment will be made during the investigation.”
Nastase was already under investigation by the ITF after making an apparently racist comment about Serena Williams’ unborn baby at Friday’s press conference and asking British captain Anne Keothavong for her room number.
Former US Open finalist Pam Shriver, meanwhile, has revealed that Nastase made inappropriate comments, including asking her if she was a virgin, when she was a teenager on the WTA Tour.
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