There has been much discussion surrounding the state of doping tests in tennis recently. Usually, the committee that handles the tests for the players is the International Tennis Integrity Agency, and their procedures of acquiring samples have been chastised by the tennis community. Many players have come forward and stated that there is no proper scheduling or structure behind it. Casper Ruud also recently added his voice to the clamors.
While Ruud talked about the inconveniences of the test timings, one player is already suffering the brunt of the same. Jensen Brooksby, an American youngster, is on the bad side of the ITIA and found himself banned after failing to follow the testing guidelines.
Casper Ruud opens up on the inconveniences of the ITIA
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As he waits for his Paris Masters draw to be revealed, Casper Ruud is currently holding discussions on the Eurosport Tennis channel. In Episode 7 of Ruud Talks, he discussed how the scheduling of the ITIA is highly inconvenient with an example. He told former Austrian tennis player Barbara Schett by painting a scenario where he has a test scheduled at 7 or 8 a.m. However, he wakes up much earlier and has to use the washroom.
😭😂
"Let’s say I wake up because I want to pee so much, I really need to go! But then you think, I shouldn’t go! Because I wanna save my pee [for a doping control officer]! "
🎥Ruud Talk/@eurosporthttps://t.co/G68H0wtZuU pic.twitter.com/nxBEuo9Neo
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) October 30, 2023
Ruud revealed, “I wake up by myself because I have to pee so much. I really need to go like pee typically, you do maybe once during the night. This is, like I said, it will sound silly, but you’re kind of thinking, ‘Oh, maybe they come up at seven. I maybe I shouldn’t go because I want to save it because if I go, and you know, I empty my bladder at 6:15. Maybe I won’t get to pee until like 10’, you know, because you don’t. You cannot just pee whenever you want so.”
Although the example might come off as hilarious at first, in reality, many players might share the sentiments of Casper Ruud. One American player, Jensen Brooksby, is already facing the brunt of it as he finds himself hit with a significant ban.
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American youngster faces the wrath of the ITIA
Jensen Brooksby’s final ban came as a surprise after his rise through the ranks. Things began to fall apart for him a few months ago when he was facing a provisional suspension for missing three drug tests. The ITIA later issued a clear verdict explaining how he himself is liable for ultimately missing the entirety of the upcoming 2024 season, with the suspension ending on January 4, 2025.
Brooksby has spoken against the ITIA for its harsh treatment. Although he accepts his mistake for missing the first two tests, he denies any fault for missing the third test. The stability of his career further comes into question as Brooksby faces major doping allegations.
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After the accounts shared by two players, what do you think about the ITIA’s methods? Are they as harsh as the players say they are?
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