John McEnroe slams 'cockamamie' fine

JOHN McEnroe has criticised the handling of tennis match-fixing claims, saying the suspension of Russia's Ekaterina Bychkova does not make sense.

Last week, the Tennis Integrity Unit fined Bychkova $5,000 and barred the Russian from playing for 30 days, saying she failed to report that she was asked to provide inside information and throw matches.

An anti-corruption hearing officer said there was no evidence Bychkova accepted any compensation. She was penalised because she didn't disclose the offer until being questioned by investigators from the Tennis Integrity Unit, which was formed by the Grand Slam committee, International Tennis Federation, and the ATP and WTA Tours.

McEnroe called match-fixing a "huge concern", and said Bychkova had been suspended after turning down an illegal approach, which he said would dissuade other players from being honest. "From what I understand (Bychkova] was approached, said no, and just because she didn't report that, maybe she was afraid, I think that's a legitimate concern, and so then she's suspended," McEnroe said.

"It's one of these cockamamie rules again that I've been railing against, that doesn't necessarily make a whole lot of sense to me."