Doping tests 2019: Federer, Nadal and Struff right at the forefront
The ITF has announced which tennis professionals were tested most frequently for doping in the 2019 season.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Feb 22, 2020, 08:37 pm
Both the tests during tournaments (in-competition) and outside (out-of-competition) were listed - with the exception of those from national anti-doping organizations.
And, of course, the Big 3 are in the front for men: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were tested most frequently - Federer 9 times during his tournaments and 20 times outside, with Nadal 12 and 17 tests. Novak Djokovic was tested 10 times in tournament operation and 14 times outside. "Record holder" for tests at competitions is Jan-Lennard Struff with 14 pieces (with 17 outside).
Dominic Thiem was tested 8 times in the tournament and 14 times outside, Alexander Zverev 7 and 10 times.
In the women's category, world leaders Ashleigh Barty and Elina Svitolina from the top players are at the top with a total of 29 rehearsals, 12 and 14 of them in tournaments. Victoria Kuzmova is at the top with a total of 34 tests (for the men, this was Hyeon Chung).
Sharapova and Williams rarely checked
Maria Sharapova (2 tests at tournaments, 10 outside) and Serena Williams (6 and 5 tests) were checked rather rarely, but they also played few tournaments. In particular, Williams' rather rare tests are astonishing, after all, she often mocked about the supposedly frequent tests at times during her tournament breaks.
Recently two doping scandals had shaken the tennis world. Nicolas Jarry and double player Robert Farah tested positive, as was announced earlier this year. Farah, however, has now been acquitted because the ITF believed his account of how the test had turned out positive. Brazilian player Beatriz Haddad Maia was last suspended for ten months. She had admitted to taking a contaminated food supplement.