April 22, 1988: Kenya’s tennis star Paul Wekesa is suspended from representing the country for six months for playing against a South African. Like in the Davis Cup tie against Egypt, Kenya National Sports Council Chairman, Charles Mukora said in a statement that Wekesa had been excluded from the team for the Olympic Games in Seoul. Mukora said Wekesa had three options when he knew he would play the South African, Pieter Aldrich in West Indies Association of Tennis Professionals ranking tournament three weeks back. “He should’ve either put in a written protest to the referee, feigned an injury or sickness, or sought the advice of the Kenyan tennis authorities,” said the sports official . He said another African player” Nduka Odizor of Nigeria, whom Wekesa had eliminated earlier had protested to the referee over the presence of the South African. “Wekesa is enlightened enough to have known the implications of playing against a South African,” Mukora noted in announcing the decision taken after a Thursday night joint meeting between the KNSC and the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association. He said investigations had shown that KL TA was not aware of Wekesa’s participation.

Photo|Nation Syndication