[elects]

Racial abuser Klein gets six months to cool his heels and curb his tongue

Tim Clarke

July 10, 2009

DAVIS CUP star Brydan Klein has been banned for six months by the ATP after an investigation into the 19-year-old's racial abuse of a South African opponent at a UK tournament last month. The ban follows Klein being fined the ATP maximum of $14,000, and his suspension from the Australian Institute of Sport.

Klein called Raven Klaasen a "f---ing k***ir" during a tournament in Eastbourne. An ATP statement issued yesterday said Klein, who apologised after his outburst, had been suspended from the ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour, having been found to have committed the "player major offense, aggravated behaviour", under its code of conduct. He was fined a further $10,000 following the investigation.

"The determination said the use of the slur was 'repugnant', and is particularly upsetting and entirely unacceptable for this to be used in a sporting event such as the ATP World Tour," the statement said.

Klein, a West Australian, could appeal against the penalty. He could also have the length of the suspension reduced if he completes a racial sensitivity training course approved by the ATP within the first four months of the suspension. The remaining two months' suspension would effectively be waived by becoming a probationary period; and the additional fine could be waived.

The penalty is effective from July 20 unless Klein appeals against the decision.

A Tennis Australia spokesman confirmed the ban to Fairfax Media after Tennis West president Dean Williams said he was sad but not surprised because of Klein's track record.

"His behaviour since he was a junior has been absolutely shocking, we have seen it in Perth, disgraceful behaviour, now we have seen it on the world scene," Williams told the ABC.

"That is possibly, the most derogatory shocking terminology to another human being that you could possibly do. It is the worst."

Williams added: "It is not the first time he has been suspended", which was why "they have thrown the book at him this time".

"They are fed up with him. It is obviously going to jolt him.

"I am very aware they had to apply a harsh penalty because they had to send a message to young players that they will not tolerate this behaviour. Unfortunately it is rife amongst the juniors."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/ten...732428710.html

[TheBest-Host]

Terrible. Plus, he's been suspended before.

Is he supposed to be some big up and comer, or is this gonna be his footnote in tennis history?

[MatueHarton]

I don't know what the second word is. Not that it matters.

This kids sounds like a real piece of work. How long before they ban him permanently?

[TheBest-Host]

I don't know what the second word is. Not that it matters.

This kids sounds like a real piece of work. How long before they ban him permanently?

The linked article actually states the whole word. Then, I had to go look it up.

[freddystone]

LOL! It's called bullying. You'll need more than a suspension to fix that. Try psychiatric treatment!

[TheBest-Host]

I just looked him up. That match with Klaasen was a third round qualifying match that Klein won 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. A tense match and Klein obviously has problems handling that kind of situation. Not sure racial sensitivity training will correct that.

[GogaMegaPiska]

I just looked him up. That match with Klaasen was a third round qualifying match that Klein won 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. A tense match and Klein obviously has problems handling that kind of situation. Not sure racial sensitivity training will correct that.

Does Racial Sensitivity Training ever do anything except help them learn to mask their ugly thoughts. Obviously I'm skeptical. But it's an honest question, I'm not familiar with the basics of the training nor the actual results. Does anyone know more about this?

[Stovegeothnon]

Never heard the word in my life.

Weren't there linespeople and umpires in that match? What can an opponent do to warrant any kind of personal attack?

[TheBest-Host]

LOL! It's called bullying. You'll need more than a suspension to fix that. Try psychiatric treatment!

Considering how close the match was, bullying may be right.

[berdyanskdotsu]

the word is the South African equivalent of the n-word, right?

Suspension is one thing. I guess they think a long-term punishment is a deterrent. Wonder why a point (or game) penalty wasn't applied during the match? That might very well have made the difference in the outcome.

I guess I'm most bothered that he was (at least temporarily) allowed to get away with this behavior, and won the match.

[abossakon]

Does Racial Sensitivity Training ever do anything except help them learn to mask their ugly thoughts. Obviously I'm skeptical. But it's an honest question, I'm not familiar with the basics of the training nor the actual results. Does anyone know more about this?

For all intents and purposes, isn't that good enough? Certainly it's wrong to play thought police so the next best thing is to teach them to keep their damn mouth shut and their stupid thoughts to themselves. If it's a good training, it'll challenge their core beliefs but the person has to be open to being challenged in the first place.

[sadgpokx]

the word is the South African equivalent of the n-word, right?

Suspension is one thing. I guess they think a long-term punishment is a deterrent. Wonder why a point (or game) penalty wasn't applied during the match? That might very well have made the difference in the outcome.

I guess I'm most bothered that he was (at least temporarily) allowed to get away with this behavior, and won the match.

Yes, it is

[Super-Luser]

I guess I'm most bothered that he was (at least temporarily) allowed to get away with this behavior, and won the match.

Could it be that officials on court didn't know what it means? I've also never heard this word before...

[Gofthooxdix]

Does Racial Sensitivity Training ever do anything except help them learn to mask their ugly thoughts. Obviously I'm skeptical. But it's an honest question, I'm not familiar with the basics of the training nor the actual results. Does anyone know more about this?

I agree, I think "racial sensitivity training" does more harm than good.

[MatueHarton]

I'm not sure any tour should take on the responsibility of training players to be racially sensitive.

I think it's the tour's job to help protect the audience, ball and lines people and opponents, from the pollution coming from the offender's mouth.

I'll bet a lost point, game, or set, will go a long way in doing just that.

[elects]

I'm not sure any tour should take on the responsibility of training players to be racially sensitive.

I think it's the tour's job to help protect the audience, ball and lines people and opponents, from the pollution coming from the offender's mouth.

I'll bet a lost point, game, or set, will go a long way in doing just that.

I totally agree Kirkus.

[DeilMikina]

He really ought to have been defaulted.

[aliceingoogs]

The "k" word is a word I'm familiar with so perhaps it's a Commonwealth 'thing' as it's origins seem to South African.

[abossakon]

The "k" word is a word I'm familiar with so perhaps it's a Commonwealth 'thing' as it's origins seem to South African.

I thought it was a well known word. There was a famous, very inspirational, book about apartheid I had to read in middle school (that I'd highly recommend) called Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane. It's tennis-related, too. Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith are two of the book's and the author's heroes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffir_Boy


I hope no one's offended I didn't bleep out the word...

[AdobeCreativeSuite]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/ten...732428710.html

Good. Wish his ban was longer.