1. Andre Agassi
Agassi revealed in his book 'Open' just how closed the ITF kept his own drug revelations from the late '90s. Admitting to methamphetamine usage, it took a self-serving autobiography years after the event to bring the events into the open.
The fact that the authorities kept this hidden does as much damage for the sport by implication than the shadow that Lance Armstrong cast across all sports. The question is, what else have they been hiding?
The fact that the authorities kept this hidden does as much damage for the sport by implication than the shadow that Lance Armstrong cast across all sports. The question is, what else have they been hiding?
2. Petr Korda
Korda tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during the Wimbledon Championships in June 1998. This was publicly revealed in December 1998.
Why the delay in revealing the result? Was there a connection with this positive test and Korda's sole major championship at the Australian Open just months earlier?
Korda was beautiful player with late success, a positive test, and a quiet retirement.
Why the delay in revealing the result? Was there a connection with this positive test and Korda's sole major championship at the Australian Open just months earlier?
Korda was beautiful player with late success, a positive test, and a quiet retirement.
3. Guillermo Coria
In April 2001, Coria tested positive for nandrolone. The news was publicly revealed on 10 July 2001. Coria was initially banned from tennis for two years, Coria said that the supplement he was taking was supposedly a multivitamin. Private lab testing conducted by his family found the multivitamin to be contaminated with steroids.
Coria went on to reach the final of Roland Garros in 2004.
Coria went on to reach the final of Roland Garros in 2004.
4. Mariano Puerta
Puerta was banned for two years in 2003 after testing positive for clenbuterol. The ban was reduced to nine months after he claimed that it was for his asthma.Puerta reached the final of Roland Garros in 2005, being out-lasted by Nadal.
Puerta was again banned in 2005 following a positive test for the cardiac stimulant, etilefrine. The suspension was for 8 years.
5. Martina Hingis
In 2007, Hingis revealed in November that she was under investigation for testing positive for cocaine, some five months earlier.
One of the most talented women to have ever played the game - and perhaps pound for pound the best of her time - In January 2008, an ITF tribunal suspended Hingis from the sport for two years. Hingis retired from tennis as a result.
One of the most talented women to have ever played the game - and perhaps pound for pound the best of her time - In January 2008, an ITF tribunal suspended Hingis from the sport for two years. Hingis retired from tennis as a result.
6. John McEnroe
"For six years I was unaware I was being given a form of steroid of the legal kind they used to give horses until they decided it was too strong even for horses."
Those are the words from McEnroe himself. They came some 20 years after the steroid taking, and again, showed that a big name is more likely to be pinged by admission rather than by an authority.
A seven time grand slam champion, the controversial player is still more renowned for his genius and tantrums. His drug taking amounts to a footnote.
Those are the words from McEnroe himself. They came some 20 years after the steroid taking, and again, showed that a big name is more likely to be pinged by admission rather than by an authority.
A seven time grand slam champion, the controversial player is still more renowned for his genius and tantrums. His drug taking amounts to a footnote.
7. Wayne Odesnik
In 2010, Odesnik was guilty of importing human growth hormone into Australia. The ITF banned him for two years. The ban was later reduced to one year following his "substantial assistance" to authorities.
Substantial assistance? What the assistance entailed remains opaque, as with much of tennis' doping cases.
Substantial assistance? What the assistance entailed remains opaque, as with much of tennis' doping cases.
8. Victor Troicki
Is this a case involving drugs? We don't know that, just as we don't know whether the guy fleeing his car before being breath tested had consumed alcohol.
In 2013, Troicki was banned for not providing a blood sample. The suspension was reduced on appeal to one year, meaning that he is due to return in July 2014.
In 2013, Troicki was banned for not providing a blood sample. The suspension was reduced on appeal to one year, meaning that he is due to return in July 2014.
9. Richard Gasquet
Gasquet was provisionally suspended from tennis in 2009 for taking cocaine, but was later cleared. Gasquet's explanation was that his inadvertent consumption came after kissing a woman who had consumed it at a party.
Surely Gasquet's backhand is the only stimulant a party girl needs.
Surely Gasquet's backhand is the only stimulant a party girl needs.
10. Lance Armstrong
As with most sports, the Lance Armstrong case raises doubt over every extraordinary performance. When we see extraordinary endurance in a tennis match, we have to now ask if it's possible for this to be without assistance. When we see predictable success and players who peak on cue, and where we see other players without an answer, we are forced to question results. When we see the authorities opaque in their dealings and defensive on the subject of drugs, it is right to be suspicious. Lance Armstrong is not to blame personally, but his case and the sport of cycling does have similarities that should be questioned.
1 comment:
www.Tennishasasteroidproblem.blogspot.com. A good overview of the problems.
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