The World of Drugs in Tennis
For many years, tennis was seen as a largely drug free sport. It was common knowledge that players used stimulants such as beer or champagne, but these was considered the norm, rather than a practice to be abhorred. In the mid 1970’s, Jimmy Connors and Ilie Nastase split a champagne bottle on court during the middle of a doubles match and were seen as good sportsmen for doing so. Moreover, there were a few tests available for hardcore drugs, so the possibility of any harsh consequences was minute at best.
However, in 1980, Yannick Noah finally spoke out during an interview with Rock & Folk. While he admitted to using hashish himself, he incriminated athletes such as Bjorn Borg and Victor Pecci for using cocaine. He complained about amphetamines (also known as speed), saying that even clean players were tempted to use drugs in an attempt to level themselves with athletes whose progress depended on drug abuse.
As a result of this, Arthur Ashe (who has a stadium at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Centre for the US Open named after him) proposed that tennis authorities begin testing for drugs. Thus the ATP established a relationship with Comp-Care, an organization that provided anonymous help for athletes with drug abuse problems.
However, despite this help, many players today resort to drug use. The ATP has long since made a habit of turning the other cheek when professional tennis players are accused, opting to drop cases with minimal or no consequences.
For example, in 2002-03, seven players tested positive for Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid which helps in muscle-building. However, only Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic was ever identified. When a second player entered this debate, he claimed that ATP-prescribed drugs were responsible for the elevated levels of drug abuse in players’ systems. The remaining six players promptly adapted the same excuse and, despite no evidence of Nandrolone being present in any ATP authorized drug, all cases were dropped against them.
Another controversial aspect of the ATP’s policy towards drug use is its classification of cocaine as a recreational drug instead of a performance enhancer. However, cocaine is still a stimulant. Moreover, unlike other professional sports, tennis routinely dismisses drugs which are not performance enhancers. It should be kept in mind that even recreational drugs are illegal and dangerous, and to obtain them, players may associate with criminals, leaving opportunities to blackmail.
One of the most recent incidents of drug abuse that illuminates this point was Frenchman Richard Gasquet’s positive test for cocaine during the Sony Ericsson Open in 2009. He reacted with disbelief, swearing that he had never used cocaine and did not personally know any users either. Rafael Nadal defended him with a poorly constructed excuse: ‘maybe he kissed a cocaine user.’ Gasquet backed this up, citing Pamela (no last name) - a girl with whom he had gone clubbing, as the cocaine user.
Sadly, this pattern is not uncommon. A player is excused of drug use; he or she reacts with disbelief, appeals to the public and the authorities, and changes his defence multiple times. An independent anti-doping tribunal reduced the Frenchman’s suspension to two and a half months, but the penalty came when he was already off the tour. Other repercussions include the mysterious Pamela threatening to sue for slandering her reputation, invading her privacy and making false accusations.
The above evidence brings the ATP’s misguided approach to drugs into a far clearer light. In order for the sport to remain fair and unbiased, it is important for these rules to be revised, and for independent tribunals to judge players with fewer leniencies. Moreover, a revamped list of drugs punishable by suspension should also be considered, and the ATP should no longer protect players who are found to be drug users.
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