The ATP tour is highly regarded in the sports world for having the toughest anti-doping policies in all of professional sports.
Yes, you read that sentence above correctly, tennis has the toughest anti-doping policies. I know what you might be thinking, “tennis…really? Why isn’t the NBA, NFL or MLB holder of the toughest anti-doping policy?”
The following will give you a little insight into just how tough the policy is in tennis, and how it might be too much in my opinion...these are straight from the ITF Rule Book
“Any player who enters and participates in a competition, event or activity organized sanctioned or recognized by the ITF or who has an ATP Tour or a WTA Tour ranking (a “player”) shall be bound by and shall comply with all of the provisions of this program, including making himself or herself available for testing both In-Competition and Out-of-Competition.”
If you play the game, or are associated by anyway, you comply or you go home. No if’s and’s or but’s comply or go home.
“Any coach, trainer, manager, agent, Covered Events staff, official or medical or para-medical personnel working with or treating a player is bound by and shall comply with this programs”
Ball boys, ball girls..yeah you have to give samples if they choose to and the trainer who comes out to massage a player if they call for a trainer? Yes they have to comply too.
All players must make sure that all of his/her “people” are aware of the rules of this program and that anything the player ingests, or medical treatment given, doesn’t break the rules.
“It is each player’s personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enters his or her body. A player is responsible for any prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers found to be present in his or her specimen.”
A bit off-topic, but the perfect example for this is San Diego Chargers defensive end Shawn Merriman, who is a pro bowler and was named NFL’s defensive player of the year. If you didn’t know Merriman is well known for making a huge travesty about the NFL’s anti-doping policies, yet Merriman submitted two samples that both tested positive for a banned substance, and he was only suspended for four games.
Richard Gasquet on the other hand, was banned until investigation was complete for having cocaine in his system that was found during a random test at the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open. After investigation it was found that Gasquet had it ingested in his system through physical contact with another woman. In that time he missed the French Open and Wimbledon, two of the four slams played each year.
“It is the sole responsibility of each player to ensure that the ITF is able to communicate with him or her efficiently and reliably in relation to matters arising under this program.”
The player is responsible for making sure the ITF can get a hold of them at any time for any reason. This is in the book for the following rule…this one I believe is a bit much, but I can understand why it is there.
“All players shall be subjected to Out-of-Competition testing under this program”
This also includes a No-Advanced Notice of Out-of-Competition testing at any time and place.
Is that a bit much? Just ask Andy Murray, who was asked to be tested at 7am during the US Open, and he had no choice but to comply see the article here (www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/andymurray/6106682/US-Open-Britains-Andy-Murray-frustrated-by-intrusive-tennis-drug-testing-protocol.html)
7am? Really, I think it’s great that the ITF doesn’t give notice, but this is during competition (a slam at that) and at 7am for a player who’s trying to rest for their upcoming match? I think the biggest flaw is the time that they test players. Out of competition is ok at any time…but in competition they should be a bit more reasonable with the timing they test their players.
This policy just puts any policy that the NBA/MLB/NFL have to shame.
Any Union suit who doesn’t want to adopt this kind of policy isn’t really trying to protect their clean players.
Thoughts, opinions..do you think the ITF policy is overkill? Is it good?...
What's on your mind?
Post a comment below.