DAMIR DOKIC THREATENS AGAIN
^{By the Australian Tennis Magazine - December 14, 2000}

Australian Tennis Magazine is outraged at suggestions of racism following the most recent chapter of the controversy surrounding the Dokic family.

In an article published in The Age in Melbourne on Saturday 18 November, it was alleged that Damir Dokic was considering legal action against Australian Tennis Magazine through the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, following an October editorial which suggested that Damir Dokic should "seek psychological counselling" after his forcible ejection from the US Open and subsequent six month ban from the Sanex WTA Tour.

The suggestion that criticism against Damir Dokic is based on racism is nothing short of ludicrous. Our original comment was made with consideration to the welfare of Jelena Dokic and the final sentence of the editorial - that "nobody wants to see any family disintegrate because of tennis" - fully supports the good intentions with which the sentiments were expressed.

Throughout the continuing controversy surrounding Jelena and Damir Dokic, Australian Tennis Magazine has attempted to retain its integrity and consider the welfare of Jelena through balanced, non-sensationalist reporting. The main focuses of articles on Jelena's performance at the US Open were her amazing mental strength and the enormous potential she displayed - a fact which appears to have been overlooked by both Jelena and her father.

While it is disappointing that Australia may be deprived of a female champion through Jelena Dokic's decision to reside elsewhere and possibly represent her native Yugoslavia, we must also consider the health of Australian tennis in general. We don't believe that Tennis Australia should respond to Mr Dokic's irrational threats by holding any further discussions. Any future win by Jelena wearing Australian colours would be a hollow victory indeed.

Should Damir Dokic carry out his alleged threats of legal action against Australian Tennis Magazine we will be defending ourselves vigorously with facts that we trust are already clear to our readers. Australian Tennis Magazine has a proud 26 year history as a repected, independent publication, fully committed to promoting tennis in Australia. Our editor, Alan Trengove, is Australia's most honoured tennis journalist, serving on the ITF's Media Committee and being included in the International Tennis Media Hall of Fame, also most recently running as an honoured Olympic Torchbearer.

As the publisher of Australian Tennis Magazine, I support fully Alan Trengove's responsible comments and advice to Mr Dokic and I urge him to stop making mischievous and misguided threats against us.

Ms. Michelle Michie
Publisher

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