Top 20 PPA Pro Andrei Daescu SUSPENDED for use of foreign substance… 

A lot of you are asking why the scenarios I brought up matter. I’m all for fining Andrei. I applaud this move from the UPA in general. I just know from my experience working at the PPA that there were a few finable offenses that took place last year such as the ones I’ve mentioned that were not treated seriously. I’m all for making a statement that cheating will never be tolerated but $50k seems a bit excessive and unusual from what I’ve seen…

Middle finger isn't in the same universe as a substance to cheat. But $50,000 is insane. Millionaire pro athletes rarely ever get fined that amount for cheating or other offenses and they can easily afford it

There is a lot of misinformation about this. First of all, the paddle in question was never used in tournament. Daescu has publicly said that it was a training paddle with a substance on it that he and training partners use to easily simulate top-level strokes/spin in practice. It was dropped off by mistake (obviously, whether you think he cheated or not). I am not sure if pros have to have their paddles inspected before each game or not. But really the only facts are that a paddle exists in Daescu's possession that has a substance on it. Doesn't mean he's ever used one in tournament, and his shots don't look like it either tbh.

What does flicking someone off or throwing a paddle have anything to do with cheating?

I hope for Andrei's sake that he has a viable appeal process so the facts can be presented versus all the rumors surrounding this unfortunate event. I am a resident of West Palm Beach, and I have taken clinics and participated in events sponsored by Andrei. I can unequivocally say that Andrei is great person, of wonderful character, and is an asset to the pickleball community. Rather than jumping on the "witch hunt" bandwagon, I hope the pickleball community stands behind and supports one of its great stars.

I'm all for punishing him if he's guilty, BUT 50K??!! That's insane.

No one can say how long he has been doing this and if its a factor in his recent wins, they are all suspect.

$50,000 is absurd. Just for reference, last year max scherzer was fined $10,000 for using an illegal sticky substance as a major league pitcher. Max’s last contact was for $130,000,000 over 3 years.

Only thing not fair. Is the amount way too high for what they earn

50k is CRAZY

What was the substance? $50,000 seems excessive. How much did he make from winning?

Since they’ve decided to use him as an extreme example with this harsh punishment, they really need to look at Lea Jansen and reprimand her for her ridiculous and nasty behavior toward Andrea Koop. She always seems pissed off and surely, but this was way beyond that.

If true, I wonder if he did it on his own. Proton, also a bat company, certainly knows about pine tar regulations in MLB. If MLB players violate the pine tar rule, they will be removed from the game and suspended. Not a stretch to suspend and fine a PPA, APP, MLP, or whatever league player, for doing something illegal to gain advantage (aka cheat). Also, flipping somebody off and throwing your racquet at the ground and having it bounce into the spectator area is not cheating. Not something I condone, but this is the proverbial apples and oranges, they are all different situations.

Great video. You should post more pickleball news like this

Fining makes sense, but $50,000 is moronic.

I deal with cheaters at a 3.5 level all the time! It’s disgusting and I am glad that they threw the book at him. Doubt if this is an isolated incident. Some people just gotta cheat. We need honest pros to emulate.

Pickleball needs to grow up and be professional!!!

Sets an example moving forward!

And who profits from the fine? Some of it should be given to some of the players that lost to him in the finals.

You could say, & many pros are saying, the Jolla 3 is cheating ! This is crazy

Proton took responsibility for it. They said this paddle wasn't meant to be used for play. I suspect Proton is going to cover the fine.

I think he should have been suspended for 6 months. The rules governing paddles and cheating at the pro level is a joke. Other major sports would have given at least a 6 month ban.

If he cheated, that fine isn’t high enough and your other examples are irrelivant. They focus on inconsequential personal reactions, not equipment alterations or PED’s. This is no different than golf.

Can he still play APP during suspension?

Those are not the same comparisons at all. All deserving of a fine but cheating is way way low for a player to resort to and it’s calculated and premeditated

I personally think the amount of the fine is due to the Johns brothers losing prize money after being defeating from Andrei

I don’t think anyone is gonna take advantage of this substance bc no one wants to pay $50000😂

The cheating is getting ridiculous. He should be banned.

Think the fine is in line with the offense…..your other infractions mentioned are not comparable… anyway really interesting. I thought he was on some steroid or something

Come on man flipping the bird is not CHEATING Hey Pete Rose knows that . How about the black Sox throwing a series . PPA sent the word to the rest of the players on cheating with knowledge or your part of it. This is not like a delaminating paddle Unless the player did it to the paddle on purpose some way.. Good for the PPA.

He should lose all his wins and a fine!

Imagine cheating in pickleball 😂😂😂

Seems like you're defending him for cheating. It should have been $100,000 if he cheated. How about the other players that played against him at a disadvantage?

Creasy