(ATR) Shamil Tarpischev may face an IOC ethics investigation over derogatory comments he made about U.S. tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
Tarpischev called Serena Williams "one of the Williams brothers" on a Russian television show earlier this month. She reacted by saying his remark was "sexist" and "racist."
Despite an apology, the 66-year-old head of the Russian Tennis Federation was on Saturday handed a one-year ban by the Women's Tennis Association and fined $25,000.
WTA CEO Stacey Allaster said Tarpischev’s remarks were "insulting, demeaning and have absolutely no place in our sport."
The IOC has yet to decide if the case will be referred to its ethics commission.
"The IOC will directly contact Mr. Tarpischev to ask him for a full explanation of his comments," a spokesman told the Press Association.
A member of the IOC since 1994, Tarpischev has been a member of the Russian Olympic Committee’s executive committee for 20 years.He sits on the IOC’s sport and environment and entourage commissions.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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