Wanted to set a precedent

AITA says Bhupathi and Bopannas disservice outweighs their contributions

While The All India Tennis Associations decision to keep Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna out of all forms of national representation till 2014 was seen as harsh,the federation said that it was meant to send out a statement to deter dissent in the future.

AITA general secretary Bharat Oza also said that the association did not wait for an opportune moment the statement was released hours after the new-look Indian team took an unassailable lead in their tie against New Zealand on Saturday to make the announcement.

This is not a one-off decision because of the success in this Davis Cup tie or something; this decision was coming for some time now and we wanted to set an example to all those players who aspire to play tennis for the country, Oza said.

When reminded that Bhupathi has represented India in Davis Cups since 1995 and that Bopanna was a part of the team that reached the World Group stage the last two times,Oza said: their disservice was far greater.

The Commonwealth Games in 2014 fall within the ban period but the event does not include tennis and the Asian Games in Incheon that year will be in October for which Oza said Bopanna could be eligible depending on his circuit record.

Why two years?

When asked about the rationale behind the period of the ban,Oza said: The current rules and regulations are inadequate and do not specify any time period for disciplinary actions,we are working on a code of conduct which we want all players to sign before they represent India, he added. Oza also said that the sports ministry and the IOA had given their approval for the disciplinary action once the Olympics were over.

Bhupathi,38 and Bopanna 32,are being punished for their refusal to go with the selectors decision during the Olympics. Bhupathi refused to partner Leander Paes for the doubles event and when Bopanna was approached to do so,and he too declined to pair up with the top ranked Indian doubles player. Paes decision to opt out of the current tie also raised some eye brows,but the federation cleared his name.

Paes spared

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Oza argued that both Paess behaviour in the build-up to the Olympics and his decision to make himself unavailable for this tie did not invite censure. Leander always agreed to the choice of the selectors and did not react initially but did so only when he was called a cheat or unsportsmanlike in public. He didnt falter on disciplinary grounds there.

Initially the World Team Tennis league was seen as the reason for Paess absence from the current tie,but Oza confirmed the 39-year-old opted out for emotional reasons. A player may not be available for Davis Cup for both physical and mental reasons and if we would have pressurised I am sure he would have come here. But he said that he was very disturbed and did not want to face the media scrutiny and we excused him, Oza said.