The International Tennis Federation and World Anti-Doping Agency have implemented a new rule in tennis to help fight the use of performance-enhancing drugs and a lot of the big names, including Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, aren't so keen on the idea.Under the new rules, tennis players must let the WADA know one hour every day when players could be available for testing, informing the agency when and where they will be during that hour. The players aren't happy, saying this hinges on invasion of privacy and intolerable harassment.
"I think it's too much," the Australian Open champion said after beating Karolina Sprem 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday in the second round at the Open GDF Suez in Paris. "It's very invasive. ... Basically, they show up at your house on any day."Not only is the "one hour a day" thing a part of the new system, but athletes are expected to let authorities know their schedule over the next three months so that they can find them and schedule the testing process.
"I jump from city to city all the time. First of all, I never tell people where I am because I like to do my own thing," Williams said.There is a thin line between being cautious and being invasive and this seems on the latter side of it. Having an hour a day that you can put aside for the possibility of a drug testing agent dropping by? Giving someone your agenda for the next three months? Yes, these are athletes but they are also people, and I don't know a person in my life that could give you a play-by-play of their next 90 days.
Nadal said players have felt like criminals because of the new restrictions and I don't blame them. This rule needs to be changed, and changed fast. If this is the only solution for steroid use, science has won the war on logic.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-12-2009 @ 11:45PM
Bob said...
Once again, life imitates art. Say hello to Big Brother! Do they have to wear a lo-jack, too?
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2-13-2009 @ 12:14PM
g said...
"...I don't know a person in my life that could give you a play-by-play of their next 90 days."
All pro cyclists do it. Have for years. Are we ready to talk about the sports that are actually full of dopers trying to hide? Or are we going to keep pointing the finger at cycling and say they are all on dope?
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2-13-2009 @ 8:21AM
soulsojourn72 said...
It is simple if they do not want to do it then they should quit playing tennis.
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2-27-2009 @ 11:50AM
matchtuff said...
I want you to have the same rules employed at your company. How far behind do you think that is? Remember just because this rule isn't applied to you now doesn't mean your employer can't institute it later. Firemen, police, insurance agents, cashiers, government employees can all be held accountable for the public good. They want to put GPS in your car to track your miles. Why wouldn't they want to know if you smoke, drank or ate fatty foods over the weekend and you could be a health risk that increases the insurance costs for the company. Look at the big picture this could be you or your children or friends. Tennis players are tested at each tournament why do they need to be tested maybe everyday? Look in the mirror and imagine this is you for your job whatever it is you do. Why wouldn't the company that does this testing push to apply it to every job everywhere.
2-18-2009 @ 12:36AM
Chris said...
Funny how Nadal and Serena both very muscularly huge players by tennis standards are opposed to being subject to testing....
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2-19-2009 @ 9:19AM
Kevin Gourdine said...
this is crazy. who would give someone a 3-month schedule indicating when they could be tested for a banned substance. But then and again the folks that run Tennis are in their own world anyway.
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3-15-2009 @ 5:49PM
samwise246 said...
I too find it interesting that a world class athle5te would have a problem with this, unless they have something to hide. Remember when that sportswriter reminded Sammy Sosa of Sosa's comment that he would be first in line for testing if baseball ever started it? And when he asked Sammy to step up and offer to be tested to prove he was not "juiced" Sammy went ballistic on the reporter. I see the same thing here. If you are not guilty of doing anything wrong, why complain about the testing?
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