The ATP’s stars all weighed in on drug use. Andy Murray contended that tennis shouldn’t protect its stars or anyone, and the public should know if any match-fixing or doping investigations have been initiated. He said there were times he suspected players used drugs and he called for additional spending on anti-doping. He added that he’s faced players who, “don’t seem to be getting tired…You hear things…You’re watching someone playing six-hour matches over and over and showing no signs of being tired.” He said he’s had suspicions.
He didn’t name names, but Novak Djokovic‘s coach, an incensed Boris Becker, claimed tennis was clean and Murray was “totally out of order” and players shouldn’t be accused unless they’ve tested positive.
Becker noted that Novak “gets tested a lot…In Melbourne he…would be playing a night match and somebody comes to his hotel room at 7 am to do a urine test. I think, ‘How dare you?’ But those are the rules.” Djokovic reported that Murray told him that his comments weren’t about specific individuals. Novak said, “As long as we don’t have proof that the game isn’t clean, then it’s clean.”
Wimbledon and the Aussie Open both announced increased anti-doping measures. Federer contended that blood samples should be kept for ten years and that testing should be the same around the world.
Rafa Nadal, long a target of accusations, followed up on his threats and sued a former French government official who suggested he used drugs. Nadal asked that all his blood tests be made public.
Meanwhile, WADA admitted that when they banned meldonium they didn’t know how long it stayed in the blood. Critics howled at their lack of knowledge. The revelation would seem to be helpful to Maria Sharapova in her upcoming trial – which should occur before Wimbledon. Russian tennis czar Shamil Tarpischev hoped “Sharapova will still be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games.” Vladimir Putin asserted meldonium “does not impact results at all. It simply keeps the heart muscle in good condition under high strain.”
