British tennis bosses are set to lift their controversial ban on Russian and Belarusian players ahead of this year’s Wimbledon championships, reports RTE.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, the UK Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has come under pressure from the British government to impose a ban.
Russian and Belarusian players were eventually barred from all five LTA-organized ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournaments, including the Queen’s Club in London.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which runs Wimbledon, has imposed a similar suspension.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported: “All expectations suggest that the AELTC will lower the ban on Russians and Belarusians”, reports RTE.
However, it added that players from those countries may be required to sign a declaration that they will not “promote or glorify” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warfare in any way during the tournament.
The ATP, which runs the men’s professional tour, responded to last year’s ban by punishing British tennis with a $1 million fine, split between $750,000 LTA and $250,000 AELTC, reports RTE.
Both the ATP and the Women’s Tennis Association also stripped Wimbledon of its ranking points.
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