Ilie Nastase banned for ‘racially insensitive’ comment over Serena Williams unborn child and sexual advances Ilie Nastase GETTY

An ITF statement said that Ilie Nastase had been found guilty on four different counts under their Fed Cup regulations and welfare policy.

“Mr Nastase made a comment about Serena Williams’s unborn child that was highly inappropriate and racially insensitive.

“He made advances of a sexual nature towards Anne Keothavong, the Captain of the Great Britain team.

“He made abusive and threatening comments to a member of the accredited press.

“He made abusive and threatening comments to the match officials and to members of the Great Britain team, refused to leave the court, and deliberately interfered with the opposing team.”

Nastase was overheard by Romanian media saying “let’s see what colour [Williams’ unborn child] has. Chocolate with milk?” for which he later apologised, claiming the remark to be “spontaneous”.

The 71-year-old Romanian was also asked to leave the court during a heated Fed Cup clash between GB and Romania, the home team captain having made comments that saw British No1 Johanna Konta taken off court in tears.

But now he will not be able to take part in the competition as the ITF have banned him until the end of 2020.

Nastase will also be denied access to all ITF tournaments until 2019, although this will not include Grand Slam tournaments because they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the governing body.

However, he was banned from the Royal Box at Wimbledon next year and the US, Australian and French Open organisers are expected to follow suit.

A version of the article first appeared in Express UK