Tennis official banned for calling Venus and Serena Williams, “William brothers”

Russian Tennis Federation President Shamil Tarpischev, has been fined $25,000 and banned for a year from the tennis tournament. His crime: He made a comment that questioned the gender of tennis superstar sisters, Serena and Venus Williams.

He had on a late night chat show on TV referred to the sisters as the “William brothers”

Announcing the punishment meted out on Tarpischev on Friday, the Women Tennis Association (WTA) chief executive, Stacey Allaster, said: “The statements made by Shamil Tarpischev on Russian television with respect to two of the greatest athletes in the history of women’s tennis are insulting, demeaning and have absolutely no place in our sport”.

She added: “The WTA was founded on the principles of equality, opportunity and respect, and Venus and Serena embody all of these attributes,”

 “Mr. Tarpischev’s statements questioning their genders tarnish our great game and two of our champions. His derogatory remarks deserve to be condemned and he will be sanctioned.”

Officials of the worldwide women’s tennis tour are also seeking Tarpischev’s removal as chairman of the Kremlin Cup tournament.

Although Tarpischev had sent in a letter of apology, there calls that he must make an open apology to the tennis sisters.

US Tennis Association Chairman and President Dave Haggerty said:“As the president of the USTA and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Tennis Federation, I call on Shamil Tarpischev to issue a formal apology to Venus and Serena Williams”

“As the president of the Russian Tennis Federation and a member of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Tarpischev is expected to conduct himself with the highest degree of integrity and sportsmanship.”