Nastase quits federation after fraud accusations

By Radu Timofte

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Former player Ilie Nastase resigned on Tuesday as president of the Romanian Tennis Federation (FRT) after local media accused the organisation of fraud at last weekend's Davis Cup match against France.

"I quit because I was unfairly attacked by the Romanian media," Nastase told Realitatea television two days after the 5-0 crushing by France.

"I'll probably leave Romania for another country as nobody needs me here."

Earlier this week, influential daily Evenimentul Zilei cited FRT documents saying the body had asked local administrative officials to pay 37,000 euros ($53,760) for a second-hand playing surface for the match when the real cost was 25,000 euros.

Former world number one Nastase denied any wrongdoing.

His resignation coincided with a court ruling denying him permission to set up a tennis academy in Bucharest. The decision came after a five-year legal battle.

"I'm very upset as a local court denied me the right to build a tennis school named 'Nastase Academy'," said Nastase.