CNN reports:
The United Arab Emirates has refused to grant a visa to a female Israeli tennis player, Shahar Peer, preventing her from competing in the Sony Ericsson World Tennis Association Tour in Dubai, the WTA said in a statement Sunday.
“Any player that qualifies should attend, and I was prevented,” Peer said from Israel. “I’m glad the WTA support me. A red line was crossed for every athlete in the world — politics should be kept separate from sports.”
. . . Dubai could lose its membership in the WTA tour next year over the ban on Peer, according to WTA rules. That would mean professional players could compete only in exhibition matches in Dubai, the results of which would not count in pro rankings.
. . . The governing body of women’s tennis said it was “deeply disappointed” that Peer was being denied entry to the country hosting the tournament, but it did not cancel the competition, which began Sunday.
The move runs counter to WTA policy, which says no player should be barred from competing in a tournament for which she has qualified.
Dubai is known as a gold mine on the tour with marquee players being paid enormous appearance fees in addition to any winnings from the tournament itself. Can’t help but wonder how much lost revenue for players is factoring into the decision to continue with the tournament this year.
Shahar Peer is currently ranked 48th in the world.
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