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Lleyton Hewitt Slapped Ban and Heavy Fine After Pushing Doping Control Official During Davis Cup

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 3:29 PM ET

Australia’s Davis Cup captain, Lleyton Hewitt, is found guilty of breaching a code of conduct and has been slapped with a ban and a fine by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). As per the ITIA, Hewitt pushed a 60-year-old volunteer anti-doping chaperone after Australia’s defeat to eventual winner Italy in the Davis Cup semifinals in Malaga, Spain, held last November.

Hewitt cited self-defense while denying the charges. ITIA referred the case to an independent tribunal, and afterward, a hearing was scheduled in July this year in Sydney.

On 4 August 2025, the independent tribunal chair Mr. Heron ruled that the charge of offensive conduct was upheld, stating that Hewitt’s actions “did not meet the requirements of self-defense”, and that his behavior was “not reasonable and proportionate.”
The ITIA stated

Hewitt was then handed a two-week suspension (24 September 2025 until 7 October 2025) and also fined AU$30,000 (around $20,000). He was also given time to lodge an appeal, but has not made the move yet.

At the chair’s discretion, the sanction was suspended to be effective from 24 September 2025 until 7 October 2025, so as not to be “unduly punitive” on Hewitt by impacting his Davis Cup schedule, and to provide the opportunity for an appeal to be lodged before the sanction enters into effect. To date, no appeal has been lodged.
The ITIA added

Due to the ban, the 44-year-old is not allowed to take part in any tennis-related activities, including coaching and captaincy. Hewitt’s Davis Cup team, Australia, has reached the second round after defeating Sweden. They will next face Belgium on September 13-14 in Sydney.

Lleyton Hewitt retired in 2016 after lifting two Grand Slam titles

Lleyton Hewitt turned pro in 1998, and after three years, he won his career’s first Grand Slam title at the US Open by defeating 14-time Major champion Pete Sampras. Hewitt continued to impress the tennis world when the following year, he beat David Nalbandian in the Wimbledon final.

Often, 22-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer stopped his progression in Grand Slam events and even denied him his second US Open win in 2004. Eight times they met in Grand Slam events, with Federer winning all.

Then at Roland Garros, 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal knocked him out four times. The last time Hewitt played a Grand Slam final was at the 2005 Australian Open, which he lost to Marat Safin. Apart from these Majors, Hewitt also clinched two ATP Finals titles in 2001 and 2002 and lost the final in 2004 to the Swiss maestro. His Masters 1000 titles tally is five out of the seven finals he played.

Hewitt, the winner of 30 singles titles, reached the top of the rankings in November 2001 after his US Open triumph. Apart from singles, Hewitt also grabbed the 2000 US Open doubles title and reached the final of the 2000 Wimbledon. With Australia, Hewitt clinched two Davis Cup titles, in 1999 by beating France and in 2003 by defeating Spain.

Hewitt last played a Grand Slam tournament at the 2016 Australian Open and hung up his racket the same year. He last won a title at the 2014 Hall of Fame Open Newport by beating Ivo Karlovic. Prior to that tournament, he also reached the final of the Brisbane International the same year and defeated Federer- also their last encounter.

Hewitt’s son, Cruz Hewitt, is trying to carve out a career in tennis and has already featured at the Australian Open qualifying round this year. The 16-year-old has also played every Grand Slam event at junior levels, with his best performance being a second-round appearance in this year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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