Pickleball professional Ryan Fu has said that an appeal challenging the termination of his contract by the United Pickleball Association (UPA) has been rejected, further entrenching a standoff between the governing body and three banned players.
Fu disclosed the development on January 3 in a social media post, stating that the UPA had denied a collective appeal filed by him, James Ignatowich and Vivian Glozman.
Fu is one of three players currently barred from competing on the PPA Tour following the UPA’s decision last December to terminate their contracts. The UPA, which operates both the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP), took action after the trio travelled to Japan for an event organised by the Pickleball Japan Federation. The association maintained that their involvement constituted a breach of contractual obligations.
Announcing the decision at the time, the UPA said: “Effective immediately, the United Pickleball Association has terminated the contracts of players Ryan Fu, Vivian Glozman, and James Ignatowich. The terms of each player’s contract are confidential; however, participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements.”
Parris Todd, who accompanied Fu, Ignatowich and Glozman on the Japan trip, received a markedly different punishment. Todd was fined USD 50,000 and suspended for two UPA events, rather than having her contract terminated.
Fu has previously criticised the UPA’s decision, arguing that the Japan visit had been approved in advance and disputing claims that the players competed in any rival events. According to Fu, neither he nor his fellow players took part in organised competition during the trip. The three players subsequently filed a formal appeal through the World Pickleball Players Association.
“Nothing in our contracts prohibited this activity. We did not compete in another league, promote a rival tour, or receive compensation of any kind,” Fu and company said in a statement related to their appeal.
With the appeal now denied, the UPA appears unwilling to reverse its position, a stance that continues to draw scrutiny given the contrasting disciplinary measures imposed on Todd for what critics argue was a similar infraction.