CNN
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The Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOC) convened the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) and Worldwide tennis Federation (ITF) will take disciplinary measures towards the Serbian tennis participant Novak Djokovic.
On Monday, Djokovic left a political message on the lens of a tv digicam French Open in response to the violent clashes in Kosovo, writing: “Kosovo is the (coronary heart image) of Serbia. Cease the violence” in Serbian.
In a letter written by IOC president Ismet Krasniqi and addressed to the IOC, the IOC stated Djokovic’s message “violated the elemental precept of the IOC constitution concerning political neutrality and implied one other political assertion in sport.”
CNN has reached out to Djokovic’s illustration for remark.
The KOC acknowledged that Djokovic “once more promoted the propaganda of Serbian nationalists and used the sports activities platform to take action”, thereby elevating “the extent of rigidity and violence between the 2 nations, Kosovo and Serbia”.
Tensions rose final week in Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. There have been clashes with protesters on Monday after ethnic Albanian mayors took workplace in northern Kosovo, a majority-Serb space of Kosovo, following elections in April that the Kosovo Serbs had boycotted. .
Djokovic elaborated on his message in Serbian at a press convention this week, saying: “That is the least I might do. I really feel a accountability as a public determine – it doesn’t matter what discipline – to present assist.
“Particularly because the son of a person born in Kosovo, I really feel the necessity to give my assist to our individuals and all of Serbia. I do not know, and I believe many others do not know, what the long run holds for Kosovo and the Serbian individuals, however it’s crucial to point out your assist and show unity in the sort of scenario.”
Djokovic’s reference to “all of Serbia” displays the coverage of the Serbian authorities, which nonetheless considers Kosovo an integral a part of its territory and has not acknowledged the nation’s independence.
Krasniqi warned that if motion shouldn’t be taken towards Djokovic, it “units a harmful precedent that sport can be utilized as a platform for political messages”.
He added: “I respectfully urge the IOC to react inside its framework and request the ITF to comply with the rules regulated by the Olympic Constitution and examine this matter by opening disciplinary proceedings towards the athlete.”
In an announcement despatched to CNN, an ITF spokesperson stated: “We have now acquired and accepted a letter from the Kosovo Tennis Federation and forwarded it to the related Grand Slam authority.
“The principles of conduct for gamers at a Grand Slam occasion are ruled by the Grand Slam Rulebook, administered by the organizer and the related regulator. There isn’t a provision therein that prohibits political statements.”
The IOC instructed CNN that the French Open is run by the related Grand Slam authority and is ruled by its guidelines.
“Solely throughout the Olympics are the gamers below the authority of the IOC,” he stated.
Djokovic performs this Wednesday within the second spherical of the French Open towards Hungarian Márton Fucsovics.
