Nastase has tennis bans reduced on appeal

LONDON (AP) — Ilie Nastase had two tennis bans reduced following his appeal against sanctions handed out for foul-mouthed comments and bad behavior as Romania's Fed Cup captain last year.

The International Tennis Federation suspended the 71-year-old Nastase from the Fed Cup and Davis Cup until 2019 and from working in an official capacity in the sport until 2021.

Both bans were reduced by eight months by an independent tribunal on Wednesday. His fine was doubled, though, to $20,000.

Nastase, the 1973 French Open champion, had speculated about the skin color of the then-unborn baby of Serena Williams during Romania's Fed Cup match against Britain in April.