Ex-tennis champion Boris Becker has dropped his claim to have diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy.<\/p>\n
The three-time Wimbledon winner had said his appointment as a Central African Republic (CAR) diplomat gave him protection from any legal claims.<\/p>\n
Declared bankrupt in 2017 over money owed to bank Arbuthnot Latham, he was being pressed for “further assets”.<\/p>\n
After a hearing in London, Mr Becker abandoned his case and his bankruptcy has been extended indefinitely.<\/p>\n
His withdrawal means a planned auction of his trophies and memorabilia will go ahead.<\/p>\n
The items for sale, which are worth an estimated \u00a3200,000, include a certificate commemorating his men’s doubles gold medal win with Michael Stich in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and a lot containing a sweater, wristbands and socks.<\/p>\n
The conflict-ridden CAR is one of the world’s poorest countries.<\/p>\n
It made Mr Becker a sport and culture attache to the EU in April 2018.<\/p>\n
Mr Becker was declared bankrupt after Arbuthnot Latham claimed he owed them a large sum for more than two years.<\/p>\n
However lawyers acting for the bankruptcy trustees told a specialist insolvency court on Monday that Mr Becker had written in an email that he had “no alternative but to abandon the claim for diplomatic immunity”.<\/p>\n
The tennis star, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented by lawyers, also wrote that he was “not in a position” financially to pursue any part of his case.<\/p>\n
The bankruptcy was due to be discharged in June but was put on hold to allow further investigation of Mr Becker’s claim of diplomatic immunity.<\/p>\n
At the time, Mr Becker said: “This order relates to one disputed loan which I was due to repay in full in one month’s time.”<\/p>\n
But a court registrar said Mr Becker gave the impression of\u00a0“a man with his head in the sand”<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mr Becker became the first German to win Wimbledon when he did so at the age of 17 in 1985.<\/p>\n He won it again in 1986 and 1989 among the 64 ATP Tour titles he claimed during a 15-year career.<\/p>\n After his retirement he became a pundit for the BBC.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"