Former Tennis Star Boris Becker Drops Claim For Diplomatic Immunity In Bankruptcy Filing

Retired German tennis star, Boris Becker, has dropped his claim for diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy in Britain.

The three-time Wimbledon champion had argued that his unpaid role as a sports, cultural and humanitarian attache for the Central African Republic gave him immunity from bankruptcy rulings.

Once word got out that Becker was no longer pursuing the claim, a judge made a court order extending his bankruptcy indefinitely and told the court that Becker’s finances may be examined if he fails to cooperate with the trustees.

In June 2017, the 50-year-old declared bankruptcy. The bankruptcy proceeding was originally due to be finished  in June, which would have released him from his debts, but that was put on hold so that further investigation could take place on the matter of the diplomatic immunity issue.

In June, his lawyers argued that his work on sporting, cultural and humanitarians affairs was covered by the 1961 convention on diplomatic relations and that he could not be subject to “legal process in the courts of any country for so long as he remains a recognized diplomatic agent.”

Becker is now trying to sell some of his trophies and memorabilia, including his men’s doubles gold medal win with Michael Stich in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, a sweater, wristbands and socks, which were previously put on hold for a planned auction, to try to lower his debts. 

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In 1985, at the age of 17, Becker became the youngest Wimbledon champion when he took the first of his three titles. In recent years, he has been in the media for a cheating scandal which ended in a divorce. Becker has also written a book about his struggle with sex, drugs and alcohol.