Tribunal rejects Lleyton Hewitt’s claim that he shoved 60-year-old anti-doping official against wall in ‘self defence’

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File image of Australia team captain Lleyton Hewitt during the doubles Davis Cup tennis match between Sweden and Australia at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm. (News Agency via AP)

Lleyton Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has been slapped with a two-week suspension and a $30,000 fine for shoving an anti-doping official. While Hewitt was understandably upset as captain of the Australian team after their defeat to Italy in the David Cup semi-finals, he had reacted by pushing a volunteer anti-doping chaperone who was 60 years of age. Media reports in Australia suggested that Hewitt, now 44 years old, had not just brushed the aged volunteer aside, he had actually pushed the 60-year-old against a wall.

The Associated Press reported that The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) — which had referred the case to an independent tribunal — said that the sanction on the tennis player will be in effect from September 25 until October 7, so as not to be “unduly punitive” on Hewitt by impacting his Davis Cup schedule. This, in essence, means that he can captain the Australian team for the upcoming Davis Cup clashes. Australia face Belgium on September 13-14 in Sydney. There is a spot in the last eight of the Davis Cup Finals on the line. But the former No 1 will be unable to take part in all tennis-related activities during the suspension — including coaching, mentoring, playing, captaincy and other associated roles.

Hewitt, a former No. 1-ranked men’s tennis player, had tried to explain himself by claiming self-defence. He, in fact, denied the charges, even though it was backed by video evidence, witness statements, and interviews.

The ITIA, in fact, had demanded heavier sanctions on the player: it wanted a four-week suspension and a $25,000 fine.

The independent tribunal, during the hearing, had noted that “there was no apology or check on the well-being of the chaperone” and “a lack of remorse from Mr Hewitt”. It also added that Hewitt’s actions “did not meet the requirements of self-defense” and that his behavior was “not reasonable and proportionate.”

Hewitt, who won the U.S. Open in 2001 and Wimbledon the following year, has the right to appeal.

(With inputs from AP)

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