Williams Faces More Than Slap on Wrist

Venus Williams’ withdrawal from the season-ending championships in Munich, Germany, has sparked an investigation, the WTA announced Tuesday. Curiously, the once-supportive words of the organization about its marquee player have vanished, replaced by new phrases: an independent committee, a high-profile arbitrator and a medical examination.

What accounted for the change was when Williams pulled out of the championships, citing an injured left wrist. She had pulled out of the previous tour event in Linz, Austria, for the same reason. Also, Williams missed the first five months of 2000 with injuries to both wrists. But the WTA established a three-member committee to look into the injury. Two doctors and a lawyer will choose a doctor to examine Williams. Bart McGuire, the WTA’s chief executive officer, said the action is triggered when a player pulls out of the championships. Williams could lose her bonus pool money of $140,000 if the investigation determines she was fit enough to play.

“They are going to select an independent physician to give a physical examination to Venus,” McGuire said. “And that physician will report back to the committee and the committee will decide whether the criteria are met. That is, that she was unable to participate because of physical inability....I think there will be a real credibility to that process.”

McGuire did not disclose the name of the lawyer, but described the individual as someone who has served in “high-profile arbitrations.”

The Williams camp was somewhat taken aback by the public airing and detail of the process. “They don’t understand why they’re using this kind of investigative language,” a source said.

Serena Williams withdrew from the championships last year because of an injury and had to provide medical proof. Keven Davis, a longtime Williams family lawyer, said there was not an investigation of this extent of Serena’s injury, and questioned the consistency of the WTA.

“Venus is truly injured,” he said. “There’s no question about it. We can look at 10 doctors to find the same thing. That’s not going to change the fact she’s injured. Serena submitted a [medical] report [last year]. The Williamses are held to a different standard than the other players.”

Serena, playing in Munich, had the final word about the controversy: “I think some people should be happy Venus hasn’t come, not [be] complaining about it.”