Wimbledon appealing fine for ban on Russian athletes

The All England Club and the Lawn Tennis Association will appeal a fine imposed by the Women’s Tennis Association for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing. News of the fine and appeal were first reported by the Daily Mail.

According to the report, the All England Club and the Lawn Tennis Association have been fined a collective total of $1 million. The two federations are expected to have the support of the British government behind them when they appeal. 

The club announced its decision to bar Russian and Belarusian players back in April. The stance by the WTA comes as most international sporting events have prohibited Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating because of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Since February the vast majority of the international sporting community have come together in solidarity to condemn Putin’s barbaric actions in Ukraine,” British Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries told Sportsmail. “Regrettably, the international tennis federations appear determined to be outcasts in this. The LTA and Wimbledon should be praised for their move to make Russia an international sporting pariah, and doing what is right in the current circumstances.”

The appeal process is a messy one, the Mail reported, as the club is expected to pay the fine in full before the appeal process can begin.

“It’s the subject of a legal process, so I can’t comment specifically on that,” All England Club CEO Sally Bolton said Monday, via ESPN. “We stand by the decision we made. We’re deeply disappointed at the reaction of the tours to that decision, and I probably can’t say any more than that at this point in time, I’m afraid.”

In addition to the fines, the WTA decided it would not award rankings points to any players at the Grand Slam tournament, which kicked off last week.

There’s no word yet when the appeal process will get underway.

“It was an incredibly difficult and challenging decision to make. 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,” Bolton said. “We accept that others will take a different view, but we absolutely stand by the decision.”