The curious case of Victor Troicki

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: The curious case of Victor Troicki

Spectator · All-time great

ITF has released the documents on Cilic: www.itftennis.com/antidoping/news/decisions/decision-in-the-case-of-marin-cilic.aspx

I know they need to be firm, but do feel for Mr Cilic. That's quite a lot to pay for inadvertently taking the wrong kind of glucose tablet.

-- Edited by Spectator on Wednesday 18th of September 2013 04:21:19 PM

john · Top national player

Not that much sympathy here. They all know the rules, they get a full list of what they can and can't take and I never understand, given what's at stake, why any tennis player would take anything whatsoever bought at a pharmacy without checking with an ATP doctor if they are allowed it!

baxi2 · Lower Club Player

Maybe Cilic will be cleared on appeal as Rusedski was cleared under almost identical circumstances although I seem to remember it was Nandrolone that was the offending substance in Greg's case !

steven · Tennis legend

baxi2 wrote:
Maybe Cilic will be cleared on appeal as Rusedski was cleared under almost identical circumstances although I seem to remember it was Nandrolone that was the offending substance in Greg's case !

The Rusedski case was very different - at that time lots of players were showing elevated levels of nandrolone in tests (I'm not sure why they tried to ban him and not the others - maybe his sample showed slightly higher levels than the rest) and therefore it seemed like it must be being caused by supplements the ATP themselves were giving out.

This is Greg's statement at the time http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3383843.stm - in the end, the tribunal pretty much agreed with him, though I don't think they ever ascertained exactly which supplements were at fault.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I see Troicki has had his ban reduced to 12 months and he can start playing again shortly after Wimbledon next year.

They basically stated that he was in the wrong but that the reason he was out of line was not to avoid the detection of banned substances. They also point the finger slightly at the doping official for not being clear enough.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/24823868

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Anne Keothavong ‏@annekeothavong 10h

As an athlete, when asked to give a urine/blood test, you do it. No excuses.

I agree with Anne on this one. Not implying that Troicki had anything to hide, just keep it simple - give the sample. Having flu/fear of needles doesn't cut it with me. If your fear of needles is SO overwhelming, you need treatment and if that doesn't work then you need to chose a different career. Sounds harsh but blood samples are part of the sport, part of what you sign up for.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Anne is right. He was stupid and he can say what he wants about the doctor but it's his respondibility