LONDON - Former Australian Open junior champion Brydan Klein was suspended for six months by the ATP on Thursday for racially abusing an opponent.
The 19-year-old Australian was penalized for making a racial slur during a qualifying round match on June 13 against South Africa's Raven Klaasen at the grass-court tournament in Eastbourne, England.
The ATP said Klein was also fined an additional US$10,000 on top of the $14,000 penalty he received on site.
The suspension covers all ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour events.
Klein, who won the Australian Open junior title in 2007 and is currently ranked No. 186, was found guilty of aggravated behaviour under the ATP Code of Conduct.
"The incident was deemed to have been 'behaviour that is flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a tournament or is singularly egregious,"' the ATP said in a statement.
Klein has the option of appealing or accepting a reduced penalty option.
The final two months of the suspension and the additional fine will be waived if he successfully completes a racial sensitivity training course.
"The remaining two months of the suspension will be reclassified as a final probationary period, allowing him to return to the Tour," the statement said.
The penalty takes effect July 20 unless he appeals.