Wimbledon Champion Handed Ban and Fine For Doping Official Incident

Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt has been handed a $10,000 fine and a two-week ban for an incident involving a doping official.

Hewitt, 44, retired from professional tennis in 2016 but continued competing in selected tournaments until 2020.

The Australian, who won the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon a year later, will captain Australia at the upcoming Davis Cup event.

In January, Hewitt was charged for 'engaging in offensive conduct towards a doping control official' after he pushed a 60-year-old anti-doping volunteer following Australia's semi-final loss to Italy in Malaga, Spain, last November.

He denied the charge, with an independent tribunal hearing taking place in Sydney between July 21-22.

Michael Heron KC upheld the charge against Hewitt and imposed a two-week ban, which will commence on September 22, as well as a $10,000 fine.

The specific date for the ban to start has been chosen as to not be 'unduly punitive' to the Australian captain during the Davis Cup.

As captain, Hewitt is not playing for the tournament but will play a significant role behind the scenes in selecting the line-ups.

Australia will take part in a second round qualifier against Belgium between September 13 and 14.

They will be represented by Alexei Popyrin and world top 16 player Alex De Minaur.

International Tennis Integrity Association (ITIA) CEO, Karen Moorhouse, said of Hewitt's sanction (via Reuters): "Anti-doping personnel play a fundamental role behind the scenes in upholding the integrity of tennis, and they should be able to go about their roles without fear of physical contact.

"In this case, that line was clearly crossed, and we had no other option but to take action."

In this year's Davis Cup, two rounds of qualifying take place before the final takes place in Italy on November 8.

In each tie, five matches are played over two days - two singles, one doubles and two reverse singles matchups.