Palm Beach Gardens resident and tennis star Serena Williams has criticized the anti-doping system in tennis, calling it ‘grueling’ and ‘unprofessional’. Williams, who is set to play in Wimbledon, expressed her frustration with the system, which requires players to provide their daily ‘whereabouts’ for no-notice testing.
Williams’ Concerns
Williams, a mother of two, stated that the system is ‘unreasonable’ and that she ‘hates it’. She explained that if she misses a test outside of her allocated hour, it still counts as a missed test, which she finds unfair. Williams also mentioned that she has to report her location every day, which she finds challenging given her busy schedule.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) responded to Williams’ comments, stating that the rules have been the same for several years. The ITIA also emphasized that the system is in place to protect players, not to trip them up.
Williams’ comments come after Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, was suspended for four years for refusing an anti-doping test. Williams’ first match at Wimbledon will take place on Tuesday, where she will face Maya Joint.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
