(London) The ATP tennis tour on Friday introduced a new safeguarding policy aimed at ensuring players and staff feel safe from abuse during tournaments and know how to report inappropriate behavior.
Similar to what has been done by the WTA in women’s tennis, the ATP Code of Conduct defines how investigations should be conducted and provides for a range of potential sanctions, ranging from reprimand to permanent revocation of access to its tournaments.
The ATP also announced that it will implement training for players, coaches and staff throughout next year.
“Everyone involved in our events, from players and their teams to staff and volunteers, deserve to feel safe, respected and valued,” general manager Eno Polo said in a statement.
“This program helps make that a reality.” By putting in place clear safeguards against abuse, we are strengthening the culture of tennis and aligning our sport with global standards of governance and protection. »
The code of conduct covers areas such as harassment, sexual harassment and violence, as well as behavior that may constitute a “breach of trust” in a professional relationship.
It also urges players, coaches and tour staff to report any abusive behavior and inform the ATP’s director of safeguarding if they are under investigation by police or social services for “any behavior constituting a criminal offense or safeguarding issue”.
The launch of the protection program brings more structure to the approach to the tour, which had already been the subject of particular attention when the ATP ordered an investigation in 2021 into German player Alexander Zverev.
The ATP said in 2023 that the investigation had not found “sufficient evidence” to support allegations of domestic violence against Zverev, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, who has denied any wrongdoing.
