Gymnastics great Comaneci blasts 'offensive' Nastase

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April 24, 2017 6:48 PM

Romanian Fed Cup captain Nastase has been suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) over foul-mouthed and abusive behaviour during the tie against Britain.

Romanian Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase (C) has been suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) over foul-mouthed and abusive behaviour during the tie against Britain

Gymnastics great

Romanian Fed Cup captain Nastase has been suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) over foul-mouthed and abusive behaviour during the tie against Britain.

On Friday, he had made a controversial racial slur over Serena Williams's unborn baby while also reportedly propositioning the married and pregnant British captain Anne Keothavong.

And on Saturday, the 70-year-old former world number one and two-time Grand Slam winner was kicked out of the tie after swearing at the umpire, Keothavong and British number one player Johanna Konta.

After drawing criticsm from far and wide, Nastase was also blasted by Comaneci.

"Ilie has been my friend for many years, but I can not condone or defend his recent ugly and very offensive remarks," the 55-year-old five-time Olympic gold medallist wrote on Twitter.

Nastase and Comaneci are Romania's two greatest sporting icons.

Despite being kicked out of the tie, Nastase had blatantly ignored the ban on Sunday and walked into the VIP area at the venue in Constanta, before being asked to leave by the Romanian Tennis Federation president.

His bizarre behaviour did not stop there, though, as Keothavong revealed he had sent her flowers on Sunday in a peace-making gesture.

Amidst the controversy, Romania won the tie to qualify for the World Group in 2018 while Britain were relegated to the Europe/Africa Zone.

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