Dokic puts her foot down

SYDNEY, AUG. 3. Wimbledon semifinalist Jelena Dokic has refused to sign a player's letter of agreement for the Sydney Olympics, saying the document contains ``some really ridiculous things''.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) media director Mike Tancred told Reuters that the teenager wanted her clothing sponsor FILA to be able to use her image on billboards during the Games.

Dokic, 17, has also demanded her controversial father and coach, former Belgrade truck driver Damir Dokic, to be with her at her home-city Olympics, which start on September 15.

``We've agreed to most of her concerns,'' Tancred said. ``We would certainly look at getting some sort of accreditation for her father, a hitting practice accreditation.``

Tancred said the AOC had placed no time limit on Dokic signing the 43-page contract. The AOC is yet to announce its tennis team.

''There are a few things that concern my sponsors at this moment,`` Dokic told Australian Broadcasting Corp Radio. ''They're going through it right now and by the sounds of it I think I'll get away with it and be able to play.``

The AOC will allow Dokic to live at home in Fairfield, a short drive from the Olympic village, despite security and transport fears.

''She's a high-profile tennis player. Security is a concern but that's her problem,`` Tancred said.

Tancred said the AOC preferred all its athletes to live at the village for the Games because it was better for team morale. Dokic has also been excused from attending the opening and closing ceremonies.

Damir Dokic was in trouble at Wimbledon in June, smashing a journalist's mobile phone. Last year, he lay down in front of traffic outside a tournament in Birmingham and during the Australian Open in January he clashed with an Australian television camera crew.

At Wimbledon this year, Jelena Dokic said she had sacked her Australian coach Tony Roche and her father Damir was taking over. She was fined at Wimbledon for not attending a news conference. ''I was very happy when someone from WTA or from the media makes a problem,`` Damir Dokic said in an Australian television interview in July. ''We take a new energy from every problem. It is good for us.``

- Reuters

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Lareau downs Kuerten