{"id":48956,"date":"2022-04-26T12:37:10","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T16:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=48956"},"modified":"2022-04-26T12:37:10","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T16:37:10","slug":"victoria-azarenka-to-miss-wimbledon-over-controversial-player-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2022\/04\/26\/victoria-azarenka-to-miss-wimbledon-over-controversial-player-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Victoria Azarenka to Miss Wimbledon Over Controversial Player Ban"},"content":{"rendered":"

Victoria Azarenka is anticipated to miss this year\u2019s Wimbledon Championship as a result of the All England Club\u2019s decision to ban players of Russian or Belarusian nationality. Amidst the geopolitical background of Russia\u2019s continued invasion of Ukraine, and under guidance provided by the British government, Wimbledon announced its ban last Wednesday in order to <\/span>\u201c<\/span>limit Russia\u2019s global influence through the strongest means possible<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Despite the All England Club\u2019s noble intentions, the <\/span>decision to ban players from competing on an individual basis\u2013\u2013not under the country flag of the national team\u2013\u2013sets a dangerous precedent of discrimination in professional sports. Azarenka\u2019s case highlights the unproductive reality of this decision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the ruling, the former World No. 1, who was born in Minsk, Belarus, will be barred from the tournament this June despite living in the United States and Monaco for the entirety of her adult life. Similarly telling are her recent comments denouncing Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. <\/span>\u201cI am devastated by the actions that have taken place over the last several days – against – and in Ukraine,\u201d <\/span>Azarenka commented<\/span><\/a> in reaction to the war. She <\/span>went on in a lengthy Twitter post<\/span><\/a>, writing, “It is heartbreaking to see how many innocent people have been affected and continue to be affected by such violence. I have always seen and experienced Ukrainian and Belarusian people friendly and supportive of each other. It’s hard to witness the violent separation currently taking place.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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What more can Azarenka do to be deemed acceptable in the eyes of the All England Club? Given the UK government\u2019s intervention on the issue, not much. <\/span>“The UK Government has set out directional guidance for sporting bodies and events in the UK with the specific aim of limiting Russia’s influence,\u201d <\/span>elaborated Chairman Ian Hewitt<\/span> In a press conference <\/span><\/a>earlier today. \u201c[…] <\/span>there is no viable alternative within the framework of the government’s position to the decision we have taken in this truly exceptional and tragic situation,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

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