Martina Navaratilova has criticized the ITF for not taking action against Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev following his controversial remarks about the Williams sisters.
The well-known official described Venus and Serena as "Williams brothers" in an appearance on a Russian talk show. He has been suspended for a year by the WTA and fined a maximum $25,000, and the USTA has also called for him to apologize. Serena has said she and Venus have received a written apology from Tarpishchev.
Navaratilova said the ITF should also have done something, as Tarpishchev is a Fed Cup captain.
"The silence from the ITF has been pretty deafening," Navratilova said at Singapore, attending the WTA Finals. "They are the ones who have actually the possibility of doing something as Tarpischev is head of the Russian Tennis Federation, which falls under the ITF and is also Fed Cup captain which falls under the ITF.
"The WTA has done all they can do. They certainly have shown they have Serena's back and Venus' back and he might have thought the comment was funny but it was anything but."
Asked by Reuters, the ITF issued a statement from ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.
"The ITF was very disappointed when it learned that Shamil Tarpischev, longtime President of the Russian Tennis Federation, made derogatory remarks about the gender of Serena and Venus Williams," he said. "What Mr. Tarpischev said was wholly unacceptable to the ITF and, when we learned of the issue, we encouraged him to apologize immediately.
"Although Mr. Tarpischev assured us that his comment was meant as a joke, we made it clear to him that what he said is inappropriate in any context.
"We hope that his acceptance of fault in this matter, which includes the penalty assessed by the WTA Tour, will allow all of us to move forward."
The IOC, of which Tarpischev is also a member, is looking into the matter.