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Former Australian Open junior champion Brydan Klein has six months to reflect on his appalling behaviour at Eastbourne last month, with the West Australian banned by the ATP over his racial attack on South African Raven Klaasen.
Klein was fined by Tennis Australia for calling Klassen a 'kaffir' in the qualifying rounds of the Aegon International in Eastbourne, while he was suspended from the Australian Institute of Sport and had his funding cut off. The ATP took an even dimmer view of his behaviour, sidelining him for six months.
'Under the ATP Code of Conduct, Klein was found to have committed the Player Major Offence, Aggravated Behavior. The incident was deemed to have been 'behaviour that is flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a tournament or is singularly egregious',' an ATP statement said.
Klein, 19, was also accused of spitting at his opponent's coach during the match and he later issued an apology for his behaviour.
His suspension can be reduced by two months if he undertakes a racial sensitivity training course within the first four months of the suspension.
Australia's young male players are developing a reputation for poor behaviour with rising star Bernard Tomic walking off a court during a match on the Challenger Tour last year with his father accusing an umpire of cheating.
