Croatian tennis official banned for 10 years

LONDON (AP) The International Tennis Federation banned a Croatian official on Tuesday for 10 years for working at tournaments without telling organizers he had been suspended from the sport.

Denis Pitner was found guilty of violating the code of conduct for tennis officials and was stripped of his officiating certification.

Pitner had originally been suspended for one year for passing on details on the fitness of a player to a coach during a tournament and betting on matches. That suspension, which went into effect last August, was not made public until it was disclosed by The Guardian newspaper in February.

Within weeks of the ban starting, Pitner worked as a linesman at the U.S. Open. Pitner failed to notify the United States Tennis Association that his so-called ''White Badge'' had been suspended, the ITF said.

Pitner also told Qatar Open organizers he held a badge to officiate at that tournament earlier this year. The ITF said Pitner hoped to work at this year's Wimbledon by falsely claiming he held the badge.