ITF investigating Nastase over racist comment about Williams' pregnancy

Romania's Fed Cup captain, the former world number one and Grand Slam champion Ilie Nastase, has come under scanner of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) following his alleged racist remark about Serena Williams' pregnancy.

As Romanian player Simona Halep was answering a question in English about Williams' pregnancy at Friday's Fed Cup draw in Constanta, Nastase was heard to say: "Let's see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?"

The World No. 1 on Wednesday revealed that she is expecting her first baby but intends to return to the WTA circuit in 2018.

A spokesman for the ITF has said they are aware of the alleged comments made by Nastase and have begun an immediate investigation.

"The ITF does not tolerate discriminatory and offensive language and behaviour of any kind," Sport24 quoted ITF spokesman as saying.

"We are aware of alleged comments made by Romanian captain Ilie Nastase and have begun an immediate investigation so that we have the full facts of the situation before taking further and appropriate action," the spokesman added.

This is the second time in a month that Nastase has made comments about the Serena.

Nastase in March had made unsubstantiated allegations about her doping record.

The 70-year-old, who won two Grand Slam titles with the 1972 US Open and 1973 French Open, also made a number of inappropriate remarks to Britain captain Anne Keothavong ahead of the weekend tie between the two countries.

It is reported that he asked for her room number during the official dinner on Thursday and then repeated the request when the captains posed together for photographs following Friday's draw while putting his arm tightly around Keothavong's shoulder.