MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)– Four individuals were tossed out of the Australian Open after showing Russian flags– which have actually been prohibited from Melbourne Park– and threatening security personnel, authorities and Tennis Australia stated Thursday. A Victoria Police spokesperson stated the 4 have actually not been charged however were forced out from the website. The flags, a minimum of among that included a picture of Vladimir Putin, were being waved throughout an event beyond Rod Laver Arena after Novak Djokovic beat Russian gamer Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the year’s very first Grand Slam tennis competition Wednesday night. “A little group of individuals showed unsuitable flags and signs and threatened guard following a match on Wednesday night and were kicked out. … Players and their groups have actually been informed and advised of the occasion policy relating to flags and signs and to prevent any scenario that has the prospective to interrupt,” Tennis Australian stated in a declaration. “We continue to work carefully with occasion security and police.” On Jan. 17, the 2nd day of the Australian Open, flags from Russia and Belarus were prohibited from Melbourne Park after more than one was brought into the wait viewers the day previously. Generally, flags can be shown throughout matches at Melbourne Park. Tennis Australia reversed that policy for the 2 nations included in the intrusion of Ukraine that started almost a year back, stating the flags were triggering interruption. Professional athletes from Russia and Belarus were disallowed in 2015 from completing in different sports occasions, consisting of the males’s World Cup in soccer and Wimbledon, the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup in tennis, due to the fact that of the war in Ukraine. Russia attacked, with aid from Belarus, in February. Russian and Belarusian gamers have actually been enabled to dip into the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open, however as “neutral” professional athletes, so their citizenships are not acknowledged on any main schedules or outcomes for the occasion and their nations’ flags are not shown on television graphics. At the Australian Open, 2 ladies who represent Belarus– Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka– and one male who represents Russia– Karen Khachanov– reached the songs semifinals. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee stated professional athletes ought to not be punished for their citizenship and explained it desires Russians to be able to complete at the 2024 Paris Olympics as “neutral” professional athletes. ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
4 with Russian flags tossed out of Australian Open by authorities – The Associated Press – en Español
