by Tom Lansdell

Romania Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase was given a threeyear ban from the competition yesterday for a series of offences at a match against Great Britain in Constanta in April.

The two-time Grand Slam winner was accused of racist abuse by Serena Williams for commenting on Williams’s unborn child at a pre-match press conference.

“Let’s see what colour it is. Chocolate with milk?” he said.

In another incident on April 20, Nastase put his arm around Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong and asked for her hotel room number.

The following day, the 71-year-old repeated his request, adding: “We keep being attracted.”

During the match itself, Nastase aimed abuse at Keothavong, the tie referee Andreas Egli, and the British players, calling them “fucking bitches” and leading to the British No 1 Johanna Konta leaving the court in tears.

Nastase, who believed the English media were “out to get him”, also verbally abused a Press Association journalist on two occasions.

As a result of these offences, the ITF found that Nastase was guilty of contravening the Fed Cup Welfare Policy.

The ITF report concluded that: “Mr Nastase showed total disrespect to officials and members of the opposing team.

“In addition, Mr Nastase’s sexual innuendo, and racially insensitive comments made at official events and harassment of a member of the media amounted to a level of unprofessional conduct that cannot be excused by contextualisation of facts or claimed lack of intent.”

In addition to the ban, Nastase faces a $10,000 (£7,700) fine and will be denied accreditation to all UTF events until 2018.