British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

christ · Challenger qualifying

Doping Again !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

100% agree

Which is not to say that Tara is innocent

(Or Sinner guilty)

But a two-tier system is always wrong

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Agree with the treat everyone as equal premise, but equal is never equal, so saying that I would almost like to reverse it, so the higher the ranking, the more responsibility/consequences as they have more resource, have been at it longer and frankly should know better. Something on the lines of "With great power comes great responsibility."

Also, don't like the blanket guilty until proven innocent premise. Of course people shouldn't benefit from doping, but immediate removal seems unfair too. Maybe some rule about retrospective removal of points/money earnt during ban period and a fine dependent on earnings/ranking if found guilty, the retrospective ban being from the day they failed the drugs test. Also something around the levels, so if a performance enhancing level is found then immediate removal from competition, but to give time for evidence gathering for these lower levels.

Barefoot · Intermediate Club Player

The problem with that approach Helen is that it indirectly impacts on many others too. If said player is later found guilty, all the players who they may have beaten during the interim would have a fair case to say they've been unfairly treated and lost out on opportunities as a result.

There's no easy answer other than processing ALL cases as fast as possible and having centralised funding to do so.

emmsie69 · Masters Series Champion

Apparently 3 players tested positive at that tournament but only 1 (Tara) for Nandrolone and apparently quite a lot of it although we won't know the exact figure unless the full report is released.

JonH · Tennis legend

It could be worse- at least our Wimbledon champions havent ever doped

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/c8rpnj078pyo

Oh, wait. .

Peter too · Tennis legend

If three players tested positive at the same tournament you can't help wondering if someone is deliberately spiking their food or drink.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Peter too wrote:
If three players tested positive at the same tournament you can't help wondering if someone is deliberately spiking their food or drink.

Or they just all ate the same dish ? i.e the three all ate the steak pie whereas the others had the chicken

emmsie69 · Masters Series Champion

Or all 3 had beef and Tara added a massive portion of offal.

the addict · Tennis legend

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but Russell Fuller is reporting a new development - financial assistance for those under investigation.

Full story on the BBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/c62lyvrklz4o

JonH · Tennis legend

x.com/grok/status/1981426399618748848

Bagnis suspended

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Match fixing:

Quentin Folliot banned for 20 years

Five other players, namely Jaimee Floyd-Angele, Paul Valsecchi, Luc Fomba, Lucas Bouquet and Enzo Rimoli, have also been reprimanded.

www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/other/tennis-player-banned-for-twenty-years-as-match-fixing-scandal-comes-to-light/ar-AA1Saiwm

Blue_Belle · Pro player

Croatian player Jana Fett provisionally suspended

https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/croatian-tennis-player-jana-fett-provisionally-suspended-under-tennis-anti-doping-programme/

-- Edited by Blue_Belle on Friday 23rd of January 2026 06:42:21 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Being reported everywhere that Vondrousova refused a test

She claims she was scared, mental health anxiety, because the person came at 8.15 pm, outside of hours, was scared it was a burglar

NB Outside of hours is specifically allowed

But it's rather undermined by (a) her having has a conversation and signed a refusal form (i.e. engaged with the person, no what you'd do if you thought it was a burglar) and (b) posted an insta picture a few months before of the same situation, and her having made the tester wait in the hallway .... (and also her message seemingly was posted after consultations with lawyers)

GBJ · County player

Coup Droit wrote:
Being reported everywhere that Vondrousova refused a test

She claims she was scared, mental health anxiety, because the person came at 8.15 pm, outside of hours, was scared it was a burglar

NB Outside of hours is specifically allowed

But it's rather undermined by (a) her having has a conversation and signed a refusal form (i.e. engaged with the person, no what you'd do if you thought it was a burglar) and (b) posted an insta picture a few months before of the same situation, and her having made the tester wait in the hallway .... (and also her message seemingly was posted after consultations with lawyers)

I'm curious about this - if she is telling the truth then even with general anxiety disorder clouding things you'd think that a player might request immediately to have a test the next day or something to help show they were clean - I have not noticed any mention of this idea anywhere so wondered why this might be and whether this has tended to happen in any similar situation?