Top two banned for six months

TWO of the top men's table tennis players have been hit with a six-month representative ban for bad behaviour. Guernsey and CI champion Scott Romeril, 18, has been suspended by the Guernsey Table Tennis Association, along with island number two and fellow Island Games team medallist, Garry Dodd, 17.

Suggestions are rife that the pair's punishment followed a drunken night out in the middle of the Island Games in Rhodes.

But in confirming the suspension, GTTA president Derek Webb said that it followed a series of incidents and was not all about Rhodes.

'There have been a number of disciplinary issues with both Scott and Garry on previous GTTA trips and there were further incidents in Jersey, Rhodes and Bratislava involving one or both of the players and also some domestic issues,' said Webb.

'The management committee of the GTTA have decided to take disciplinary action in both cases.

'Garry and Scott are both popular and well liked and as older juniors are role models for younger juniors and it is regrettable we have had to take this decision, but I believe that it will be for the good of table tennis.'

The bans, which were put in place a month ago but have only just come into the public domain, deprive Guernsey of their best players at next month's Six Nations tournament in the Isle of Man and the first half of the British League campaign.

Webb said doing the right thing for the sport was paramount.

'The disciplinary action is in relation to breaches of GTTA code of conduct, which is signed by all juniors representing the island.

'The GTTA have decided that Romeril and Dodd will not be considered for representative matches for a period of up to six months.'

Webb reports that both players are practising regularly ahead of the new season which starts in three weeks and have 'reacted positively to the disciplinary action'.

The head of the sport hopes both will learn from their mistake.

'They are both still youngsters and can go on to be representing the island for the next 20 years.

'With the progress table tennis is making they can go around the world for years to come.'

The clear message, however, is: they must behave.

In their absence, the even younger Langlois brothers, Adam and Olly, will represent the island at the Isle of Man event and experienced stars such as Phil Ogier and Mark Pipet will be called on to bolster the team as Guernsey start their new campaign in Division Two South of the British League.

Romeril and Dodd's loss is others' gain, is the Webb message.

'While Scott and Garry will be missed it is a golden opportunity for others. We are still sending strong teams to the British League and senior Six Nations and I do not expect results to be significantly affect ed,' he said.

Romeril's reaction to the ban was that it was 'a bit harsh'.

'From both our points of view we find it a bit harsh and are a bit disappointed.

'But we knew we were going to be punished.'

In an obvious reference to the incident in Rhodes, Romeril said adamantly: 'We weren't the only people drinking. Others were drinking too.'

Dodd was unavailable for comment.