John Tomic ... won't be accompanying his son to Italy for the Rome Masters. Source: JULIAN SMITH / AAP
The father and coach of Aussie tennis player Bernard Tomic has been suspended from the ATP tour until further notice following an alleged assault.
John Tomic appeared in a Madrid court earlier this week after being accused of headbutting his son's French training partner Thomas Drouet.
He denied the charge, saying he acted in self defence, and will return to court next week for a judge to decide his guilt or innocence.
Bernard Tomic is preparing to continue his French Open build-up at the Rome Masters next week but, as it stands, his father and coach won't be allowed to attend.
"Following last week's incident in Madrid concerning John Tomic, and the ensuing investigation, Mr Tomic's credential privileges have been suspended at all ATP tournaments until further notice,'' said the ATP in a statement.
"The ATP's investigation into this incident remains ongoing.''
It comes amid calls from Drouet for John Tomic to be thrown off the tour permanently.
"I want to help Bernard forbid his father from having access to tournaments,'' Drouet said in an interview published in French sports daily L'Equipe.
"I want him to be banned from the ATP and the WTA.
"He is a dangerous person, who has nothing to do in this sport of gentlemen.''
Drouet also claimed in the interview he saw the elder Tomic hit his son on more than one occasion, including last week.
"John hit his son on the court, while we were training in Monaco,'' Drouet said.
"He punched him in the face. Blood was dripping from his mouth onto the court. Tuesday, he attacks his son, Saturday me, what's next?''
Drouet appeared at the Madrid court with his nose heavily bandaged and wearing a neck brace.
John Tomic's lawyer Carmen Dieguez said his client had struck his son's training partner with his head only because his own arms were being held by Drouet and he had to protect himself from falling over.
Tomic opted for a court hearing rather than paying a fine.
Drouet earlier said he had been "treated like a dog'' by the coach and said the incident stemmed from an earlier altercation at Nice airport when John Tomic screamed at him for not getting some milk.
Bernard Tomic reportedly said he had been with his physical trainer at the time of the incident and had seen or heard nothing.
A spokesman for the world No.53's management company IMG Tennis said he was not available for comment on the issue and was "focusing on preparing on court for Rome.''
Bernard Tomic has made a poor start to the European clay-court season and lost in straight sets to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in the first round of the Madrid Masters.
Australian Davis Cup coach Josh Eagle is in Madrid and will provide whatever immediate help the 20-year-old Tomic needs.
Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter, coaching great Tony Roche and Tennis Australia's head of professional tennis Todd Woodbridge will also spend much of the next two months in Europe, taking in the French Open and Wimbledon.
