Shahar Peer Accused of Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Wednesday, February 6th, 2008In an odd twist, Shahar Peer was accused of unsportsmanlike conduct in the Fed Cup tie between Israel and Russia.
In a story posted on ESPN.com, Peer is said to have encouraged the crowd to unsettle Maria Sharapova, Dinara Safina and Anna Chakvetadze in last weekend’s tie.
Alex Gilady, an IOC member, said the crowd, some of whom had mimicked Australian Open champion Sharapova’s grunting sounds as she hit the ball when she played Tzipi Obziler, had portrayed a “primitive” image of the country.
The Israel Tennis Association said in a statement that it did not accept Gilady’s criticism of Peer, although it asked spectators to behave in an acceptable manner.
I call this odd because it doesn’t seem like something Shahar Peer would do, but stranger things have happened.