Doping controversies have rattled the tennis world! Professional tennis players have now become increasingly worried about unintentional doping violations due to contamination, especially after the recent high-profile cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. Emma Raducanu said recently, “A lot of the players I know are quite apprehensive.” Andrey Rublev was heard saying he was “super afraid” to ingest anything he was not absolutely sure of. Amid all these, ex-American pros recently shared their thoughts on getting tested during the offseason. They didn’t look too pleased with the timings of the doping tests! What did they say?

Well, during the recent episode of ‘Nothing Major Podcast,‘ Steve Johnson, John Isner, and Sam Querrey were seen speaking about their experiences with the same. The 34-year-old American former pro tennis player, Steve Johson said, “I think the tennis drug testing is the most strenuous and annoying. You know, four of us, we had to give one hour a day where we would be every single day of the year regardless and they can show up at any given time and they just knock on your food and its urine, its blood, its whatever. It’s annoying because even if you go on vacation you’ve to tell them where you’re what hotel you’re at, come enjoy come get six in the morning, please come on.“

A few years ago, John Isner also said, “We all get tested a lot.” He said, “Each player that’s in the drug testing pool has to give one hour where they know they will be home. When I’m home in Florida I know I’m going to be sleeping between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m., so if I hear the doorbell come I got to take the test. I think the rule is if they come outside that hour and I am not home — obviously, if it’s 2:00 in the afternoon and I’m out doing something, I can’t get in trouble if I’m not there.” 

Then recently during the podcast, Isner explained an incident where he went to the airport with a drug tester. Elaborating more on that incident, he added, “I had a flight we’re like ‘Dude like I have a flight at 8 am‘, I just went to the bathroom, he followed me to the Tampa Airport. Once I finish with the check-in process, I’ll likely have to go to the bathroom. So, I’m not going to go through security I kind of told them, that was the deal.“ After that even Sam Querrey chipped in saying he also had a similar experience in the past.

The doping cases of players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek have now made these things a hot topic in the off-season! However, talking about inappropriate timings of the doping cases, do you know even Novak Djokovic was once left furious after being asked to undergo a dope test shortly before a Davis Cup match? He said, “I didn’t believe that they could make such a decision, in 20 and more years of my career, it never happened to me that an hour-and-a-half before the match, I needed to go for doping control.” Amid all these, recently another tennis star got provisionally suspended after admitting a breach of anti-doping rules.

After Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, Aussie tennis player has now got his name involved in a doping controversy

Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for traces of the steroid clostebol in March this year. However, an independent panel accepted that there was “no fault or negligence” on Sinner’s behalf. The Italian is now waiting for the outcome of an appeal to the CAS over his suspension. After that, we saw Iga Swiatek accepting a one-month suspension having tested positive for a banned substance (TMZ) in August. 

Recently, after Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, the Aussie Max Purcell got his name involved in a doping controversy. The 26-year-old tennis star has taken a voluntary suspension after admitting breaking WADA rules relating to the “use of a prohibited method.” He claimed that he “unknowingly received” an intravenous infusion of vitamins which were above the 100ml limit allowed by the WADA. As a result, Purcell has now been provisionally banned from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event.

The ITIA didn’t release a detailed report on the length of his band, but it was effective from December 12. “This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure everything is Wada safe,” said Purcell. His compatriot, Nick Kyrgios has been one of the biggest critics of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek on these doping issues. What did Kyrgios say about Purcell’s incident though?

Nick Kyrgios’ first reaction was, “Gee wiz our sport is in the mud at the moment.“ He even lashed out at Max Purcell later on his IG stories! What are your thoughts on the ongoing doping issues in tennis?