The Viet Nam Tennis Federation (VTF) Standing Committee banned tennis player Ly Hoang Nam from competing in Viet Nam for the rest of the year and his coach Tran Duc Quynh from coaching tennis in Viet Nam for two years.

The decision, announced at a VTF meeting yesterday, was made due to their improper absence from two calls for the national team competing in the Davis Cup qualification Group II Asia-Oceania zone matches in Da Lat last month.

Nam, 17, of Becamex Binh Duong team, is 49th in the International Tennis Federation's junior rankings.

His club explained in a letter that Nam was young and not ready to compete in a tournament as he needed to rest after a recent two-month tour of South America. — VNS