(click here) Israeli Player Denied Visa To Compete in $2 Million Tournament in United Arab Emirates

Despite being granted permission to play in Qatar last year, Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer who is ranked #48 in the world was denied acess to participate in Dubai this year. Although UAE refrenced the recent Arab Israeli conflict in Gaza as reason to prevent Peer from entry , Frenchwomen tennis player Amelie Mauresmo commmented "I think sport should be above issues like that to do with religion and wars and whatever. I'm surprised." Quite frankly, so are we too Amelie. It's even a risk for the Israeli player to play in Dubai as well. Look what happened in Munich when the Israeli athletes were kidnapped during the 1972 Olympics. Even if the Knicks wanted to draft Osama Bin Laden's grand nephew into the NBA, few would contest. Don't worry Shahar Peer , you will play on and the WTA is on your side. The Dubai sponsers won't be smiling in 2010 when they are stripped the privillage of hosting a $2 million dollar premiership tournament.