I like Aruna, I understand he has more than a point here. I also see how WTT is doing wrong. But...
Aruna didn't handle the thing correctly. You know you're late at sending the certificate, just go to the tournament, s**t on top of the umpire table while streaming, show the medical certificate, then accuse WTT publicly because they forced a sick player to play. This also clears out any possible doubt you had diarrhea. That's how things are done right, these are behaviors that really hit reputation and trigger media and social s**tstorm.
Instead, the way he's doing looks like someone that doesn't want to participate, late at sending the certificate and now trying to blame WTT mentioning racism. Is there any proof of racist conduct? I mean, he should be showing that proof like he did with the medical certificate. I really don't like such a racist victim complex made up on purpose to support his poor blame. Show the proof first then accuse.
Also, if he doesn't like WTT rules, he shouldn't have signed for WTT. Stay out of that c**p if you don't like it. They are disorganized and have wrong rules, they don't pay in time. Why would you sign with them and your team at the same time, knowing in advance you cannot honor your contracts?
So the thing is that WTT apparently forces players to play events, even if they
did not sign up to the event. And it forbids them to play their own event at the time of a WTT event.
How accurate this is I don't know. So to find out, I went through the rulebook with a magnifying glass to see what is in there. I didn't need to look far to find some pretty damning stuff. The quotes are straight from the current (December 3rd 2023) rulebook as active today (April 3rd 2024). Emphasis in these quotes is mine.
1. PLAYING FORMAT
1.1 WTT Series
1.1.1 WTT Grand Smash
a. Men’s and Women’s Singles:
Main Draw - Knock out of 64. • Top 50 players (Automatic Entry) based on the ITTF TTWR for singles events at the entry deadline.
Yep, WTT decided who gets entered. It's not just the top 50 players. Added to these 50 are 8 from qualifiers, and those qualifiers
also have 58 mandatory spots. So that's already
108 players who have to mandatorily show up to an event they did not sign up for.
Exactly the same logic and language is used for the other formats (WTT Finals, WTT Star Contender, WTT Feeder Series), just with a different total number of players. Just to be clear that it is mandatory:
III SPORT SPECIFIC REGULATIONS
2.4 Entry Deadline
The players and pairs who participate in the WTT Finals will be selected based on the respective ITTF TTWR list published after the end of the last event before the WTT Finals or where WTT determines the need to implement a cut-off date due to extenuating circumstances. The participation of players is mandatory.
But surely you can just decline, no? NO.
4. PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT
4.1 Entry/Withdrawal Offences
4.1.1 Withdrawal - Singles:
a) For all Main Draw automatic entries, awardedHostWildcards, awarded WTT Nominations and/or Youth Nominations, a withdrawal fine, specified in clause 4.1.1 (d) will be applied unless the player is on maternity providing the necessary documentation or the player provides signed certificate that he/she is retired from any International competition or a medical certificate is submitted and approved by WTT, and the player does not compete in other non WTT events during the period of the entered event.
This is the big one. I read it again and again. It really says that even when you are on maternity leave, or sick, it is
you, the player, who has to provide documentation,
in time, or
get fined. If you are seeded for 10 events during that time, you must do this 10 times, or get fined 10 times. The fines are between $5000 and $250, depending on your rank. For certain lower-tier events, players can get two free withdrawals a year, but that's it.
Also, you, the player, are not allowed to compete in your own matches. Aruna is not overreacting. Players are taken hostage by WTT.
The condition of entry is that players have signed a
ITTF Participation Form. So there's no Opt-out from WTT without completely opting out from the ITTF.
So let's say you do in fact cancel for medical reasons, what then? Well:
4. PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT
4.1 Entry/Withdrawal Offences
4.1.8 Playing Another Event
a) A player is not allowed to compete in any table tennis event, club match or exhibition in the same event week from which they have withdrawn, cancelled or forfeit via walk-over. In the event a player fails to adhere to this rule, the player will be fined USD $2,500. b) A player is not allowed to compete in any non WTT table tennis event, club match or exhibition in the following event week from which they have withdrawn, cancelled or forfeit via walk-over. In the event a player fails to adhere to this rule, that player will be fined USD $1,500. c) For WTT Feeder Events the fines in clauses (a) & (b) are applied at 50%.
So if you withdraw from an event, but play something completely unrelated next week (like your local grandpa/grandma baking table tennis match), you
will still be fined $1500.
And don't think the fine is the end of it:
V EVENT & PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT
1.10 Player Responsibilities
Upon Withdrawal or Retirement
Upon a player’s withdrawal or retirement from an Event, they are required to submit the medical withdrawal form containing the reason for the withdrawal or retirement and a suitable quotation that the WTT may release to the media and public. Upon a player or pair's on-site withdrawal, if requested by WTT, they are required to participate in one (1) post-withdrawal PR & Marketing activity prior to leaving the Event city with the activity as determined by WTT.
You could be dying, but even then WTT holds the rights for you to participate in a PR stunt. The way it is written, your doctors medical statement stands
below the demands of the WTT of you.
I'm sure there's more in the rules but this is enough for me.
