WTA Upholds Sanctions Against Dubai Event For Peer Exclusion

By Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Sony Ericsson WTA Tour BOD Upholds Sanctions Against Dubai Event Over Peer Exclusion

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour BOD this week upheld sanctions against its Dubai tournament for not granting a visa to Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer in February. The incident sparked an international imbroglio, and led Dubai to relent the next week and allow in Israeli doubles player Andy Ram for that week's ATP World Tour stop. WTA Chair & CEO Larry Scott on February 20 fined the event $300,000, and required a $2M financial performance guarantee. The tourney is also required to grant Peer a wildcard next year in the event she does not qualify and reimburse her lost income. But Dubai, as allowed under WTA rules, appealed Scott's penalties. Scott had no vote in the appeal, with the remaining six board members deciding the issue during WTA meetings in Madrid.