UPA Brings Hammer Down on James Ignatowich, Two Others as Parris Todd Status Still Under Review
Make no mistake about it: the United Pickleball Association (UPA) isn’t messing around when it comes to players veering away from the provisions in their contract. In a stunning move, the parent organisation of both the PPA Tour and MLP presented by DoorDash terminated the contracts of James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman after the three participated in what the UPA calls “competitor events.” Another PPA Tour star, Parris Todd, is also in limbo as her status is still under review.
“Effective immediately, the United Pickleball Association has terminated the contracts of players Ryan Fu, Vivian Glozman, and James Ignatowich,” the UPA announced in a statement. “The terms of each player’s contract are confidential, however, participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements.”
Fu, Glozman, and Ignatowich are currently in Japan, where they participated in several clinics and exhibitions organised by the Pickleball Japan Federation in Tokyo’s Ariake Tennis Park. Todd also participated in said event, but only after “initially reaching out for permission to do so, with incomplete context.”
“Parris Todd also participated in this event after initially reaching out for permission to do so, with incomplete context,” the UPA statement continued. “Leadership is still reviewing the full details, and discussions are ongoing regarding the appropriate consequence—which could range from a fine to a suspension to, if warranted, termination. We will communicate the final outcome once that decision is made.”
These terminations call to mind the UPA’s earlier decision to terminate Quang Duong’s contract after repeated violations. Duong is now a free agent and is competing primarily in Asia-based events. Taken together, these decisions show the extent to which the UPA will go to protect their brand, as they have proven they are willing to drop “name” players whose actions are contradictory to the provisions of their contract.
The terminations are a chilling reminder of that, but the UPA have assured their under-contract players that they will be “building the brightest future possible for professional pickleball.”
Read the UPA’s statement in full:
