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Ilie Nastase banned by ITF for Serena Williams comments and Fed Cup behaviour

Banned: Ilie Nastase will be unable to act in any official capacity in ITF team competitions until 2021: Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus
Banned: Ilie Nastase will be unable to act in any official capacity in ITF team competitions until 2021: Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus

Romania Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase has been banned from "acting in an official capacity" at all International Tennis Federation team competitions for over three years.

The 70-year-old former world No.1 had already been provisionally suspended after a series of incidents during a match against Great Britain in March and is now banned until December 2020.

Nastase made comments about Serena Williams' unborn baby - describing the child's skin colour as "chocolate with milk" - and "advances of a sexual nature" towards Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong.

The two-time grand slam champion was then overheard calling Keothavong and British no.1 Johanna Konta, who was reduced to tears, "f****** bitches".

Nastase was subsequently stripped of his accreditation from the tie but still threatened a journalist who reported on the incidents in Constanta.

All behaviour has been condemned by the ITF.

Nastase, who was banned from the Royal Box at Wimbledon this year, issued an apology in the wake of his actions - adding "nothing can truly excuse my statements" - and now has 21 days to lodge an appeal.

In addition, Nastase has been fined $10,000 (£7,700).