Doping Again !

Lambda · Futures level

RE: Doping Again !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

There are interviews with Sara Popa (18 year-old Romanian) in the Romanian press today. Sara used to train at the Mouratoglou academy. She claims that juniors are given unknown substances, and made to sign paperwork (along with their parents).

Now, of course, maybe it's simply SHE didn't know what the vitamins were, or whatever, because she was really young at the time. And of course you have to sign paperwork.

But given the timing of Halep's appeal at the moment against the ITIA findings, it's obvsiously raising some questions.....

www.gsp.ro/sporturi/tenis/academia-mouratoglou-substante-simona-halep-sara-maria-popa-730665.html

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
There are interviews with Sara Popa (18 year-old Romanian) in the Romanian press today. Sara used to train at the Mouratoglou academy. She claims that juniors are given unknown substances, and made to sign paperwork (along with their parents).

Now, of course, maybe it's simply SHE didn't know what the vitamins were, or whatever, because she was really young at the time. And of course you have to sign paperwork.

But given the timing of Halep's appeal at the moment against the ITIA findings, it's obvsiously raising some questions.....

www.gsp.ro/sporturi/tenis/academia-mouratoglou-substante-simona-halep-sara-maria-popa-730665.html

Cant read Romanian sadly! But yes. It should. This guy needs scrutinising, and very closely.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:

Stircrazy wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Jenson Brooksby banned until Jan 25 for missing tests

x.com/relevanttennis/status/1716914275078320578
He's disputing the third missed test, according to Stu Fraser in today's Times. His explanation sounds plausible...
My problem with these guys is that if you know you've missed the first two tests, wouldn't you be SO SO careful about the third test? Why miss the first two tests, indeed? Rather Oscar Wilde style, One is just unfortunate, two is downright careless - and three is now a major problem

Brooksby has had his suspension reduced by 5 months and it will now end on 4 March. In return Brooksby will withdraw his appeal to CAS. The agreement to reduce the suspension comes after new information was submitted as part of his appeal to CAS about the missed tests that was not available to the ITIA or the tribunal. The ITIA say that due to the nature of the new information disclosed, it is not possible for the ITIA to discuss the specific details behind the reassessment or offer further comment.

Back soon then

Madadman · Top national player

CAS has reduced Haleps ban from 4 years to 9 months. She can return straight away as she has already served the term.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Madadman wrote:
CAS has reduced Haleps ban from 4 years to 9 months. She can return straight away as she has already served the term.

Oh wow.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Madadman wrote:
CAS has reduced Haleps ban from 4 years to 9 months. She can return straight away as she has already served the term.
Oh wow.

sweet holy moly .....

emmsie69 · ATP level

Unbelievable. Apparently they dismissed the ABP irregularities on the basis that the test was taken before surgery and she had said she wasn't going to compete for the rest of the year. Isn't the whole point of the ABP to give a baseline reading so any systematic doping where there aren't standalone tests currently available will still show up. This makes them worthless in the fight for fair sport.

RainDelay · Pro player

What a nonsense

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

And what happens with her ban? She ended up spending longer suspended than her final ban? Does she get something back for that?

I see Tara has been tweeting about it as well, Id have to check but mainly having a go at the ITIA and process

Madadman · Top national player

Id imagine not much. The ITIA do seem unfit for purpose in terms of handing out bans that are proportionate. Appealing Tara winning her appeal seems mad. I get that you want a clean sport but there doesnt seem to be any speed to the proceedings that innocent players are basically banned until they can prove their innocence. System needs revamping if you ask me.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

No, of course Halep won't get anything back for the extra time
That's like in all areas of law (as long as it was procedurally fair)
And she's not innocent - she's been given a ban of 9 months
But, yes, the system certainly looks a mess

Blue_Belle · Strong Club Player

Halep makes her return at the Miami Masters.

Var · Club Coach

Wow. Caroline doesnt pull her punches in this piece re doping offenders. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/68612597

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Just for completeness, from the Miami presser:

Caroline: First of all, Ive always liked Simona. We've always had a good relationship.
I've been very outspoken in the past how I feel about doping and all of that. I think my view on doping is the same. I have always wanted a clean sport, fair for everybody. I think it's definitely still my opinion. Again, this is not directly at Simona, but if someone purposely cheats, if someone has tested positive for doping... I understand why a tournament wants a big star in the tournament, but it's my personal belief, and it's not a knock on anyone, but it's my personal belief that I don't think people should be awarded wild cards afterwards.

If you want to come back, and it's been a mistake, I understand, you should work your way up from the bottom.

That's my personal opinion upon things.
Simon's situation has obviously dragged on for a long time. She got her suspension reduced. It wasn't a clearance, it was a reduced sentence. She's now been off of the game for a while and she's coming back.

Again, I just hope for a clean sport. That's all I want. I want to have good role models for the young generation. It's a sport that has a lot of money in it, a lot of competitiveness, a lot of competitors. I want a fair fight.

I've always been a very honest athlete and always looked at everything that I've taken. Even taking Tylenol is something I double and triple check three times. All I want is for my kids to look up and say, You know what, I want to play tennis and I want to play fair.

I still got a chance. I want to be out there competing fair and square with everyone else. That's my view on things, how I'm raising my kids as well. Fight fair. No matter where you're going to be, what you want to do, just do it with the right mindset, yeah. That's where I am.

(via Miami Open Press)