Korda's decision surprises Krajicek
Posted: Monday January 11, 1999 11:06 AM
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Korda will hold a news conference Tuesday AP |
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Former Wimbledon champion Richard
Krajicek said he was surprised that Petr Korda took the "gutsy"
decision to confront his angry peers and defend his Australian Open
title.
Korda will take his place in next week's Grand Slam event as the
sport's governing body pursues a one-year ban against him for
testing positive to steroid Nandrolone at Wimbledon in July.
Several players have criticized a decision by an independent
committee appointed by the International Tennis Federation to let
Korda escape with a fine and loss of ranking points.
Krajicek said the ITF's decision to appeal the leniency of the
ban could take three months to resolve, leaving Korda in a
difficult position.
"It looks like he's going to be on the tour for a while,"
Krajicek said. "I would be the opposite, I would be stying home.
"I think it's gutsy of him. I don't think he's sleeping well,
he's human."
Korda comes face-to-face with seven of his peers Tuesday at a
media conference ahead of this week's Colonial Classic -- the last
tournament before the Open.
"It's going to be strange for him," Krajicek said. "That's
why I think it's a gutsy decision to keep playing.
"Even if I thought I was wasn't guilty I'd want to stay in a
quiet place."
The ITF-appointed committee opted for its minimum penalty in
sentencing Korda, accepting the player's claim that he took the
drug unknowingly.
The 30-year-old Czech was stripped of 199 rankings points and
U.S.$94,529 prize money he earned at Wimbledon.
Swedish player Jonas Bjorkman has been the most vocal of several
critics of the decision to let Korda off without suspension.
"I think it's sick," Bjorkman said.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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