Klein given six-month ban for racist abuse

Former Australian Open junior champion Brydan Klein has been banned for six months for racially abusing an opponent, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said.

The 19-year-old Australian was initially fined $13,920 and suspended by Tennis Australia after a volley of abuse aimed at South African Raven Klaasan when they played in the qualifying rounds of an ATP event in Eastbourne, England last month.

After further investigation, the ATP said that the 186th-ranked Klein, who issued a public apology after the incident, had been given a six-month ban from all ATP World Tour and Challenger Tour events and also fined a further $10,000.

Media reports in Australia said Klein, who won the junior grand slam event at Melbourne Park in 2007, had called Klaasan a "kaffir" and spat at his coach.

Tennis Australia immediately suspended Klein from the Australian Institute of Sport and cut off his funding grants and reserved the right to impose their own penalties.

The ATP said Klein had the option of appealing the decision, and if he enrolled onto a racial sensitivity training course within the first four months of the suspension, the remaining two months' suspension and additional fine would be waived.