ITF decision peeves AITA

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is disappointed at the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) decision to let off Tennis Australia with a fine because it felt a suspension was a more appropriate penalty for refusing to play their Davis Cup tie in Chennai earlier this month.

“The decision of the committee was not unanimous and the letter is only communicating the penalties and is not giving any details of the debate and discussions that have led the Davis Cup Committee to take such a decision. The AITA is disappointed with the decision taken by the Davis Cup Committee and will take it up at an appropriate level in the ITF,” said Colonel Ranbir Chauhan, executive director of the AITA.

Australia had refused to play in Chennai over security fears after the November 26 attacks in Mumbai and the Lahore ambush on Sri Lankan players in March. Tennis Australia had cited the shifting out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a case in point regarding fears of security.

The ITF’s five-member Davis Cup committee held talks on Friday about penalties for refusing to travel to Chennai for the May 8 to 10 tie and decided that Australia would not be suspended from the 2010 competition or be relegated from the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.

“Australia will lose the choice of ground for their next home tie regardless of the opponent and will play a fine of $ 10,000. Australia will also be liable for costs to both the ITF and to the AITA to be determined at a later date,” said a statement from the international body.