Given the repetition of deeply inappropriate behavior on the part of Benoît Paire, the Executive Committee of the French Tennis Federation, on the proposal of DTN Nicolas Escudé and in consultation with Sébastien Grosjean, captain of the French Davis Cup team, has decided to exclude the player from a possible selection for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. 

On March 04, 2021, during his match against Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo at 2e round of the ATP tournament in Buenos Aires, Benoît Paire had behaved unsportsmanlike and unsuitable both on the court (spitting, swearing, sloppy end of the match) and outside (inappropriate reaction on social networks).

This behavior was not isolated (previous various episodes of broken rackets, swearing, etc.), the ethics committee of the FFT had decided for the first time to take up the situation ex officio, in application of the 'Article 28 of the Administrative Regulations of the FFT which in particular instruct it to ensure compliance with the ethical rules of sport and the ethical principles applicable to all players in French tennis.

In this context, the President of the FFT, Gilles Moretton, spoke with Benoît Paire to remind him that professional players have the duty to respect the values ​​of sport and tennis, and the particular responsibilities that must lead them. to set an example vis-à-vis the tennis community, and more broadly the youth of the country.

Benoît Paire had apologized in a letter to the ethics committee, acknowledging that his behavior had been inappropriate, and had notably expressed his desire to improve.

In its opinion delivered on March 12, the Ethics Committee considered that the player's behavior was in contradiction with the values ​​of tennis which appear in Principle 1.1 of the FFT's Code of Ethics (respect for the game, places and equipment, rules, of oneself, of others, of sporting and public institutions in one's country, fair play or even self-control). But he had taken into consideration his letter of apology and thus ruled out a referral to the disciplinary bodies of the Federation, while solemnly calling on the player to comply at all times with the values ​​of tennis and to change his attitude for the future.

But on April 11, after his loss to Australia's Jordan Thompson in his 1er round at the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, Benoît Paire repeated at a press conference, with words once again deeply contrary to the ethics of sport and the values ​​of tennis, which not only outraged the whole tennis family but shocked many beyond.

Considering that these inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and repetitive behaviors, coming from a high level player, are inadmissible and very negatively affect the image and values ​​of sport in general and tennis in particular, Gilles Moretton has initiated a consultation with elected officials and high level officials on the follow-up to be given by the FFT to the behavior of Benoît Paire.

The Comex considers that the player is not able to meet the requirements for participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as outlined in the Major selection principles for the Tokyo JOPs adopted by the CNOSF Executive Board on 12 November 2018, the selection rules established by the International Tennis Federation on February 18, 2019 amended in June 2020, as well as the Charter of ethics and professional conduct of French sport adopted by the general assembly of the CNOSF on May 12, 2012.

On this basis, the Comex therefore established a draft decision to exclude Benoît Paire from a possible selection for the Tokyo Games. After leaving the player the option of reacting to it, which he did in a constructive manner, the Comex confirmed its decision during its meeting on April 23, 2021. Benoît Paire could therefore not be selected to represent France at the Games that will start in July.

« Responsibility, for our sport and for France, on the proposal of the DTN and in consultation with Sébastien Grosjean, the Comex has decided to exclude Benoît Paire from the future list of players who will represent the FFT and France this summer at Tokyo. His behavior which has been deeply inappropriate since the start of the year seriously undermines the values ​​of sport, such as tennis, and is totally incompatible with the Olympic spirit. I repeat, it is the duty of each player and each high-level player to respect the values ​​of our sport and it is up to them to be exemplary on and off the court, especially vis-à-vis the young people of our country »Declared Gilles Moretton, President of the FFT.

The Federation, through the DTN, offered Benoît Paire support to help him get through the current period, which he is obviously experiencing particularly difficultly, so that he can regain serenity, confidence and the pleasure of playing. and to demonstrate irreproachable behavior in the future, worthy of his talent.

Team Padel May

Team Padel Magazine tries to offer you since 2013 the best of padel, but also surveys, analyzes to try to understand the world of padel. From the game to the politics of our sport, Padel Magazine is at your service.