Australian tennis great Lleyton Hewitt to appeal two-week tennis ban for alleged ‘offensive conduct’

Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt is planning to appeal after being hit with a fine and a ban for “offensive conduct” during an overseas tie.

Hewitt has been allowed to lead Australia in this weekend’s second-round qualifying tie against Belgium in Sydney despite allegedly pushing a volunteer doping control official against a wall last year.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Lleyton Hewitt suspended for pushing volunteer.

The 44-year old grand slam great was on Wednesday handed a two-week suspension and $30,000 fine after being found guilty by an independent tribunal of pushing the 60-year-old anti-doping chaperone in an incident following Australia’s 2024 semi-final loss to Italy in Malaga.

The tribunal recommended one-third of the fine received by the ITIA should be paid on to the chaperone “in compensation for the stress, discomfort and embarrassment of the incident.”

The official has since said he will never volunteer at a tie again, with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) saying that would “represent a tangible loss to the anti-doping program.”

The ITIA had pushed for a heavier sanction, asking for a four-week suspension and a $US25,000 ($A37,500) fine, with the tribunal agreeing “there was no apology or check on the well being of the chaperone” and “a lack of remorse from Mr. Hewitt”.

The Agency also asked for Hewitt’s “poor disciplinary record, including five prior incidents of offensive conduct toward tennis officials and non compliance with tennis rules” to be taken into account, as well as his conduct during the hearing which it said had been “obstructive and inappropriate”.

Hewitt denied the charge and cited self-defence, but the tribunal upheld it, saying his behaviour was “not reasonable and proportionate”.

The Australian on Thursday said he never gave any consideration to stepping aside for this week’s tie.

“I’m just really disappointed about the overall decision, but also whole process, to be honest. The lack of facts that have been put out,” said the former world No.1.

“But I’ll be going through the appeal process with my legal team so I won’t be talking about it further.”

The tribunal rejected the ITIA’s primary case that Hewitt’s “push was unprovoked and born out of anger or irritation from the loss against Italy”.

But with Australia-Belgium this Saturday and Sunday, the tribunal’s chair Michael Heron said they did not want to be “unduly punitive” on Hewitt by impacting his Davis Cup schedule.

The tribunal also wanted to give Hewitt time to appeal against the verdict, if he wanted.

His suspension will start in two weeks time, lasting from September 24 until October 7. Hewitt won’t be allowed to take part “in all tennis-related activities, including coaching, mentoring, playing, captaincy and other associated roles” during that fortnight.

“Anti-doping personnel play a fundamental role behind the scenes in upholding the integrity of tennis, and they should be able to go about their roles without fear of physical contact,” ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse said in a statement.

“In this case, that line was clearly crossed, and we had no other option but to take action.”

The incident happened when both Hewitt and the anti-doping chaperone were in the same crowded corridor tribunal and had made contact.

The tribunal accepted Hewitt had been recovering from a medical condition, which he said had prompted him to push away the official, who he didn’t know was a chaperone, when there was contact between them.

But the tribunal found that the push was “too strong or forceful and was excessive or disproportionate” and that “there were other options available”.

In Hewitt’s defence, it was noted “his distinguished 25-year career is marked by exemplary professionalism and commitment to tennis, and he’s expressed genuine regret for the incident and bears no animosity towards the chaperone.

‘Too many lies’: Hewitt condemns Davis Cup officials

Rinky Hijikata is set for a Davis Cup debut as embattled skipper Lleyton Hewitt’s woes were compounded for Australia’s second-round qualifying tie against Belgium.

Less than 24 hours after being fined $30,000 and hit with a two-week ban for alleged “offensive conduct” last year, Hewitt lost Australian No.2 Alexei Popyrin and doubles ace Matt Ebden for this weekend’s showdown in Sydney.

“I’m going to be making three changes tomorrow to our named team,” Hewitt said at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on Thursday.

“Alexei Popyrin’s out. He’s been injured after the US Open with a back injury, and Matt Ebden has got a small tear in his elbow as well.”

The captain has called up Hijikata and recalled Alex Vukic, who debuted last year, and Ebden’s Paris Olympics gold medal-winning doubles partner John Peers.

“Really excited for Rinky, though,” Hewitt said.

“It’s going to be his first time wearing the green and gold, and for him to get an opportunity at a place where he grew up playing as well, it’s something really special.

“That’s one of the greatest things about my job, is giving these guys that opportunity.”

While the former world No.1 is planning to appeal his fine and ban for allegedly pushing a 60-year-old volunteer doping control official against a wall last year, Hewitt is allowed to captain Australia against the Belgians.

The two-time grand slam champion said he was “really disappointed” by the independent panel’s decision and what he perceived as misinformation being spread following the verdict.

Hewitt, though, insists it is business as usual as Australia chase a place in this year’s Final 8 in Italy in November.

Hewitt’s team is playing in Australia for the first time in three years and he is vowing to continue to fight the good fight against officials’ controversial move to dump the century-old home-and-away format.

“It’s important because we’ve been told too many lies over the time and, when it became the (Gerard) ‘Pique Cup’ as well, they sold the soul and we want to try and get back to where it was meaningful,” Hewitt said.

“The two biggest things for Davis Cup was home-and-away ties, which was a stand-out point of difference to anything else we do.

“The pinnacle was the grand slams and best-of-five-set tennis, and that’s what Davis Cup was.

“If you look back over the years at any stage of the greatest Davis Cup matches, they are all massive five-set epics that people talk about.

“And to make those changes and also the change of surface too and to continually play the finals (in the same location) ... I feel like it’s a massive disadvantage for us.

“The frustration of playing in the same place all the time and just playing away ties, it does get wearing.

“These boys don’t get the opportunity to come back and play in Australia, and I feel like the young kids and people that want to play the sport of tennis miss out.

“Back when I was playing, it could have been three or four times a year that we got to come back here, and right at the moment tennis is only seen in Australia in January, where you get to get up close and see these guys.

“That’s bloody hard on our sport in general.”