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Wimbledon, LTA fined $1 million by WTA for Russian, Belarusian ban

Both organizations have launched an appeal, as AELTC CEO Sally Bolton doubled down calling the ban “the right decision” and “the only viable option” for Wimbledon.

ByKamakshi Tandon

Published Jul 04, 2022

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The WTA Tour is applying a $1,000,000 fine as a response to the LTA and Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from WTA events during the British grass-court season, according to the Daily Mail's sources.

The British newspaper said there was a $250,000 fine for the LTA and a $750,000 fine for the All England Club, based on a decision from the WTA Board.

Though the fines can be appealed—and both the All England Club and LTA have done so, according to Reuters—they must first be paid in full, the newspaper added.

"I think the first thing to say is that it is the subject of a legal process so I can't comment specifically on that," said Sally Bolton, the CEO of the AELTC, speaking to reporters on Monday.

"We stand by the decision we made and we are deeply disappointed at the reactions of the tours to that decision. I probably can't say anything more on that at this time, I'm afraid."

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"We accept that others will take a different view, but we absolutely stand by that decision," said AELTC CEO Sally Bolton.

But the British tennis organizations still have the backing of the government, with Britain's Culture Secretary telling the Daily Mail they "should be praised for their move to make Russia an international sporting pariah, and doing what is right in the current circumstances."

"It was an incredibly difficult and challenging decision to make," Bolton added. "It was not one we took lightly. We thought carefully about the ramifications of taking it.

"But it was absolutely the right decision for us. It was the only viable option in the context of the government guidance in place and we stand by that decision.

"We accept that others will take a different view, but we absolutely stand by that decision."

In addition to the fines, the WTA and ATP Tours have also decided not to award ranking points at Wimbledon, though they did not withdraw ranking points from the warmup tour events. The Daily Mail did not say whether the ATP has decided on similar fines.

Along with Wimbledon, there are British grass-court events in Birmingham, Nottingham and Eastbourne on the women's tour.

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