ATP Setting a Strange Precedent with Latest Nick Kyrgios Punishment

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: August 25, 2015

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The ATP Tour issued a press release announcing it will suspend a suspension given to Nick Kyrgios. This addresses the 20-year-old's recent vulgar remarks. However, the six-month "probationary" period sets a precedent that opens the ATP up to a host of issues.

Sunday, the ATP announced a $25,000 fine and 28-day suspension for Kyrgios, who made lewd comments directed at Stan Wawrinka during a Rogers Cup match in Montreal a couple of weeks ago. The ATP had already fined Kyrgios $12,500. But after completing a review, officials determined that his conduct met the criteria for "Aggravated Behavior."

The Australian remains eligible to play at the U.S. Open and can avoid the fine and suspension if he conducts himself appropriately over the next six months.

Lowering the hammer on Kyrgios is one thing, but how will the ATP monitor his behavior during his probation?

Whatever it does will impact how future serious unsportsmanlike conduct violations are handled. This ruling sets the bar for what constitutes a major offense and warrants suspension and probation.

Perhaps the intent was to issue a stiff enough penalty to satisfy the outcry against Kyrgios while avoiding banishing one of its most notable young stars. By putting Kyrgios on watch, the ATP gets to appear tough and compassionate at the same time.

Unfortunately, the ATP ventures into murky territory. This indecisive pronouncement holds Kyrgios to vaguely defined rules of conduct.

If after reviewing Kyrgios' behavior, ATP officials believed his conduct deserved suspension, why not just suspend him?



Instead, the ATP took the wishy-washy route and instituted a way out that states that the fine and suspension will be withheld if Kyrgios "does not incur any fines for verbal or physical abuse at any ATP sanctioned tournament or...does not accumulate fines totaling more than $5,000 for any other offe...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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