Drug Testing and Anti-Doping Violations

Tennis is to step up its anti-doping programme Photo: Marianne Bevis


More testing and longer storing of samples among stronger anti-doping measures for tennis

Tennis is to step up its anti-doping programme, with increased testing and more samples stored for potential reanalysis

Friday 28 April 2017
The Sport Review
 
The governing bodies of tennis have approved enhanced measures for the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme from 1 May. These include an increase in the volume of testing and a strengthening of the sample storage policy.

The changes will see a significant increase in the volume of testing up to an annual total of 8,000 samples (from 4,899 in 2016), including:

– collection of more urine and blood samples both in competition and out of competition

- collection of samples across more events

– larger number of players included in the International Registered Testing Pool to approximately 250, with all players subject to testing under the Athlete Biological Passport programme.

In addition, more samples (up to 50 percent for top-ranked players) will be placed in long-term storage, allowing reanalysis of those samples, such as when new or more sensitive detection methods become available.
To fund these changes, the annual budget for the programme will be increased by over 50 percent to approximately $4.5 million in 2017.

ITF president David Haggerty said: “On behalf of the partners in the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, we welcome this strengthening of the sport’s anti-doping efforts. Protecting the integrity of tennis is an ongoing priority of the governing bodies to ensure that tennis is and remains a clean sport, and these enhancements will make a positive contribution to achieving that priority.”

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme applies to all players competing at Grand Slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the ITF, ATP, and WTA.

Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and any sanctions are imposed in compliance with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code.

The Sport Review Limited

Dan Evans reveals positive drug test for cocaine – ‘I made a mistake’


• ‘I must face up to it,’ says British No3
• World No50 says he failed drugs test in April


 Dan Evans withdrew from the Aegon International in Eastbourne. Photograph: BPI/Rex Shutterstock


Kevin Mitchell - theguardian.com

Friday 23 June 2017

Dan Evans, the British No3 and world No50 tennis player, revealed in a brief and emotional statement on Friday that he had failed an out-of-competition test for cocaine. He faces a lengthy ban, probably two years.

The 27-year-old from Birmingham, who has had his funding stripped twice in the past, said in a hastily convened press conference in a west London hotel that lasted just a minute and a half: “Hello everyone, this is a very difficult day for me. I wanted to come here in person to tell you guys face to face, I was notified a few days ago that I failed a drugs test in April, where I tested positive for cocaine. It’s really important that you know this was taken out of competition and in a context completely unrelated to tennis.

“I made a mistake and I must face up to it. I do not condone for one second that this was acceptable behaviour. I’ve let a lot of people down: my family, my coach, my team, sponsors, British tennis and my fans. I can only deeply apologise from the bottom of my heart.

“This has been a sad and humbling experience. I hope you understand that I will not be taking any questions and I would like to thank you for your support in my career, today – for the good and bad times.”

Martina Hingis received a two-year suspension for a similar offence in 2007, when she failed a drugs test at Wimbledon, and Richard Gasquet was given 12 months in 2009. After he had served two-and-a-half months, an International Tennis Federation tribunal panel lifted the ban, accepting the Frenchman’s story that he had inadvertently taken cocaine by kissing a woman in a nightclub.

Evans offered no excuse, and it is not known if he is preparing a defence for an appeal if, as seems certain, the ITF bans him. In a carefully worded statement , the ITF said Evans was tested “in association with his participation at the Barcelona Open on 24 April”. It added: “That sample was analysed by a World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada, and was found to contain cocaine and its metabolite. Mr Evans will be provisionally suspended with effect from 26 June.”


The Lawn Tennis Association’s performance director, Simon Timson, said: “We are very disappointed at the news. We absolutely condemn any form of drug-taking and will support the process which needs to take place.

“We are in touch with Dan and we will offer appropriate guidance, support and education to him on how best to address the issues he now faces.”

Evans, one of the most gifted young players in the country, had done well to overcome his rebellious tendencies, after falling to 772 in the ATP world Tour rankings in April 2015. He has often performed heroically for Great Britain in the Davis Cup and, intermittently over the past year has played impressively. At the US Open last year, he had match point against Stan Wawrinka, who went on to beat Novak Djokovic in the final.

This season Evans found form on clay as well as his favoure hard court and rose to a career high of 41 in the world in March. Within a month he tested positive for cocaine which, he insists, had nothing to do with the game he can play so well.

RoGer 2 Death wrote:Please don't accuse any player with anything unless there's some sort of evidence.

RoGer 2 Death wrote:There's 0 evidence presented in the article. Everyone could write anything. It's all meaningless unless there's an evidence which I have not seen any. Please don't accuse any player with anything unless there's some sort of evidence.  

MaxUS wrote:

RoGer 2 Death wrote:Please don't accuse any player with anything unless there's some sort of evidence.

I'd like to know if there are reports (this is the General Tennis News Thread) in other languages especially from French language sources (because of the rampant problems with cycling and in the Tour de France in particular) that are not otherwise available to me. In this case I'm far less concerned about whether Djokovic is innocent or guilty, the question that I find interesting is the accusation of the ATP being complicit in covering up failed drug tests of the top stars. In this matter there exists actual proof from what Agassi admitted in his book.

I can understand why the ATP would want to do anything in its power to hide such a situation if it involved a top player because unlike an event like the TdF where there is an even field and a clear second place. I know, that different standings would call for different strategies, but there is nevertheless a real race for getting atop the podium and anyone can ride for it. In tennis, handing the runner-up the GS win is beyond unfair to the players who permanently lost a chance to compete for the trophy because he was unfortunate enough to be drawn against a cheater.

For the record, the last I heard is that Lance Armstrong never failed a drug test on his way to his multiple TdF victories. There was no evidence in his case either, what it took to expose the truth eventually was testimony not testing. Cycling has continued to thrive in the wake of the scandal and if the ATP are in the habit of overlooking the failed drug tests of stars like Agassi, then they should reverse that policy and rip off the band aid and by owning up to it and facing the fallout. That won't happen if there are no discussions on the topic. The cycling forums before the Armstrong findings were full of discussions both pro and con, which is probably what led to the testimony that resulted in the truth coming out.

Tennis is facing its most significant doping case since the exposing of Maria Sharapova after former French Open finalist Sara Errani was reported to have failed a drugs test.


The 30-year-old Italian, once ranked No 5 in the world but now down at 98, is reported by newspaper Corriere della Serra to have tested positive for Anastrozole earlier this year.


The substance is more commonly known as a treatment for breast cancer, but is on the banned list due to its qualities as a masking agent.


Errani is said to have been subjected to an out-of-competition test at her home, and has dropped out of this week's Rogers Cup in Montreal.


In 2012 she admitted to have been treated by Spanish cycling doctor Luis Garcia Del Moral, who also worked with Lance Armstrong, shortly after the International Tennis Federation issued a directive that no players should associate with him....