‘I hate it… it’s unconscionable’: Serena Williams calls out tennis anti-doping system ahead of Wimbledon return Tennis News
Serena Williams launches scathing criticism of tennis anti-doping system ahead of long-awaited match Wimbledon Since her return, she has called parts of the current testing protocols “unprofessional” and “unreasonable” while admitting that the rules almost convinced her not to return to professional tennis.The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, who re-entered the anti-doping testing pool before confirming her return, said complying with the latest whereabouts requirements was one of the most difficult aspects of returning to tour.“It’s so grueling. They’ve changed the rules now. I didn’t know some of the rules,” Williams said ahead of her first appearance at Wimbledon since 2022.“Obviously, if you miss a test out the window, it still counts as a miss. I thought, I don’t think I can pick up my kids. “The 44-year-old mother-of-two will face Maya United in Tuesday’s first round after playing doubles at Queen’s Club earlier this month.
“I hate it…it doesn’t make sense”
Williams acknowledged the importance of anti-doping measures but questioned the impact of the current system on players who lead busy lives off the pitch.“It’s unprofessional. I hate it,” she said. “I think it’s necessary, but I think a lot of things, if I want to go somewhere outside the window, I should be able to go without being considered a missed test.”Williams went on to reveal that the rigorous testing process was one of the biggest reasons she delayed her return to tennis.“That was also a big reason why I didn’t want to come back, because it was just too hard. I mean, my life is busy. I run a company, I run a venture capital firm, I travel the world. I have kids. It’s like I get to spend a lot of different amounts of time in a lot of different cities,” she said.Describing the system in one word, Williams added: “It’s unconscionable.”
ITIA responds to Serena’s criticism
Williams’ comments came just days after 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was banned for four years for refusing an anti-doping test, once again putting tennis’ testing system in the spotlight.However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) disputed Williams’ suggestion that the rules had recently changed.“There have been no changes to whereabouts rules over the past few years,” the governing body said in a statement.The ITIA clarified that players who miss a test outside the allotted one-hour testing window do not count as a strike, while three failure to track in a 12-month period could result in anti-doping charges even if they test positive.Despite her frustration, Williams insists she has always supported the integrity movement and remains committed to following the rules.“I always knew what I was doing,” she said. “Well, it starts with getting into the habit, learning the new rules, and then reporting back every day. I think in 24 hours now I’m going to be in a different place – at least for me. I don’t know if that applies to other people as well.”
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