21 February,2009 12:46 PM IST | | AFP
Organisers of the Dubai women's tennis tournament were fined $3,00,000 by the WTA Tour yesterday after the United Arab Emirates refused to grant a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer, the WTA said in a statement.
"The actions taken today are intended to redress the wrongs suffered by Shahar Peer, who was victimized by an unjust policy of discrimination by the UAE," WTA Tour chairman Larry Scott said.
"These actions are also intended to send a clear message that our Tour will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and that we will never allow this situation to happen again, in the UAE or elsewhere."
The WTA said the move to fine the tournament was taken at a special meeting of the WTA Tour board yesterday.
The fine, "for breach of Tour Rules, By-Laws and conditions of membership," is the largest ever levied by the tour against a member tournament, the WTA said.
The proceeds of the fine will be used to compensate Peer and her doubles partner Anna-Lena Groenefeld for loss of potential prize money.
Peer will receive 44,250 dollars, an amount equal to the average prize money that she earned per tournament in 2008, adjusted to take into account increased prize money on offer in 2009.
Groenefeld will receive 7,950 dollars, an amount equal to the average prize money that she earned per tournament in doubles in 2008, also adjusted for 2009 prize money increases.
The balance of the 3,00,000 will be donated "to a charity or charities, to be determined by the tour in consultation with Ms Peer."
In addition, the board also demanded that the tournament post a two million-dollar financial performance guarantee by July 1 that several conditions will be met if the event is to be included on the 2010 WTA Tour calendar.
The tournament must provide confirmation of assurances that all players who qualify for the tournament will be allowed to play and will be issued entry visas or permits. Proof of entry permission for any Israeli player who qualifies must be provided at least eight weeks before the 2010 event begins, and if Peer fails to qualify next year she must be offered a wildcard.
The WTA will also award Peer 130 ranking points, an amount equal to the points that she earned in the same week in 2008, when she played in Memphis.
The denial of Peer's visa raised an outcry in tennis, and America's Serena and Venus Williams said they believed the publicity played a role in the fact that on Thursday Israel's Andy Ram was granted a visa to play in a men's tournament in Dubai next week.
Scott praised Peer's poise throughout the week.
"Thanks to the courage of Shahar, and all those individuals and organizations - including her fellow players - that supported her, the UAE has changed their policy and another barrier of discrimination has fallen," he said.
