Legal and Psychological Support for Tennis Players in Doping and Corruption Cases
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced a new support program for tennis players involved in investigations for doping or match-fixing. This program offers free legal assistance, confidential advice, and financial resources to analyze suspicious products. The program, which comes into effect immediately, will be evaluated next year. Tennis players can receive up to $5,000 to analyze medications or supplements in laboratories accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They can also obtain the same amount to identify potential sources of contamination in meat, a common explanation for positive results in doping tests. Sport Resolutions, an independent dispute resolution service that manages tribunals in anti-doping cases in tennis, will expand its free legal support from the moment a player tests positive for a prohibited substance. Previously, this service was only available after charges were filed. In addition, Sporting Chance, an organization working on the mental health of athletes, will provide six support sessions for the well-being of tennis players investigated for anti-corruption or anti-doping violations.We recognize that the process can have both a financial and emotional cost.
Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the ITIA
The ITIA was involved in two high-profile doping cases in tennis that began last year and ultimately resulted in short suspensions for players who have been ranked No. 1 and have won multiple Grand Slam titles, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. Sinner reached an agreement with the AMA to accept a three-month suspension that ended in April after that group appealed an exoneration from the ITIA based on what it determined was accidental contamination by an anabolic steroid. Swiatek agreed to a one-month suspension that she partially served during the past off-season after testing positive for what she said was a contaminated over-the-counter medication. Some tennis players, notably 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, have criticized the way the cases were handled, saying there was a feeling of favoritism towards the biggest stars in the sport.No player picks up a tennis racket as a child with any motivation other than to play the game. People find themselves in these situations for many reasons, so whatever those reasons are and however the case ends, they also deserve someone to talk to.
Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the ITIA
