Kosovo Olympic Committee seeks IOC disciplinary action against Serbian star Novak Djokovic

Kosovo Olympic authorities have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to open disciplinary proceedings against NovakDjokovic, accusing the Serbian of stirring up political tension by saying "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" at the French Open. Djokovicwrote the message on a camera lens following his first-round win on Monday, the same day that 30 NATO peacekeeping troops were hurt in clashes with Serb protesters in the Kosovo town of Zvecan, whereDjokovic's father grew up.

Serbian authorities said 52 protesters were wounded in the clashes. The violence erupted after ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo's Serb-majority area following elections that were boycotted by the Serbs. The world number three later said he was against any kind of conflict but defended his statement and described Kosovo's situation as a "precedent".

"NovakDjokovichas yet again promoted the Serbian nationalists' propaganda and used the sports platform to do so," Ismet Krasniqi, president of Kosovo's Olympic Committee (KOK), said in a statement. "The further post-match statements made by such a public figure without any feeling of remorse, directly result in raising the level of tension and violence between the two countries," he added, urging the IOC to investigate "by opening disciplinary proceedings against the athlete."

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France's Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, whose country will host the Summer Olympics in Paris next year, saidDjokovic's message was "not appropriate, clearly". "There is a principle of neutrality for the field of play. When you carry messages about defending human rights, messages that bring people together around universal values, a sports person is free to express them," she told French television. "But in this case, it was a message that is very activist, that is very political. You shouldn't get involved, especially in the current circumstances, and it shouldn't happen again."

Djokovic, chasing a record 23rd Grand Slam title, has said he was not holding back and would do it again. He is set to play his second-round match later on Wednesday against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics. The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, Kosovo's tennis federation saidDjokovic's comments were "regrettable", accusing him of using his status as a well-known personality to stir tensions. NATO, which has some 4,000 soldiers currently in Kosovo, will send 700 extra troops to curb violence and put another battalion on high alert as unrest intensifies.

Svitolina backs Djokovic

"We are living in the free world, so why not say your opinion on something?," said Svitolina, who reached the third round with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Storm Hunter on Wednesday.

"I feel like if you stand for something, you think that this is the way, you should say.

"I mean, if you are with a friend sitting, talking, you're going to say your opinion, he is going to say his opinion. So why not?" added Svitolina.