Tennis organization draws mixed reaction after ‘creepy’ anti-doping policy surfaces on social media

The caller doping scandals involving top-ranked tennis pros Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek person drawn the attraction of fans and officials alike, prompting 1 of the sport’s governing organizations to contented athletes a reminder astir its ablution policy. 

The International Tennis Integrity Agency policy, which calls for players to ablution "in wide presumption of the chaperone observing them astatine each times" made its rounds connected societal media and received harsh disapproval from fans online. 

Jannik Sinner of Italy successful enactment during his lucifer against Marcos Giron of the United States of America successful the 3rd circular of the men's singles astatine the 2025 Australian Open astatine Melbourne Park connected Jan. 18, 2025. (Mike Frey-Imagn Images)

Sports Illustrated elder writer Jon Wertheim archetypal shared the argumentation reminder connected his societal media connected April 18. He shared a screenshot of the argumentation connected X with a caption that read, "This is …extraordinary."

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"The ITIA and ITF person been moving tirelessly to guarantee that post-match showers tin represent an allowable hold for doping controls, particularly erstwhile the lack of a ablution tin person a detrimental effect connected the wellness and wellbeing of a player," the connection read.

"However, taking a ablution is not a right. For this reason, the ITIA kindly requests players to ablution portion remaining successful wide presumption of the chaperone observing them astatine each times. If a subordinate feels uncomfortable being watched during their shower, we suggest considering whether it is indispensable to ablution earlier providing the doping power sample."

In effect to the post, fans criticized the policy. One idiosyncratic wrote successful response, "WTF??? This athletics is insane. This is conscionable beyond creepy." 

"This is unacceptable," different added.

Iga Swiatek makes an entreaty to the seat umpire during her semifinal lucifer against Mirra Andreeva astatine the BNP Paribas Open successful Indian Wells, California, connected Friday, March 14, 2025. (IMAGN)

TENNIS PRO CAUGHT PLEADING WITH UMPIRE TO TELL OPPONENT TO 'WEAR DEODORANT'

However, for others, the argumentation was thing new. 

Former Australian tennis pro Rennae Stubbs said successful effect that the argumentation was ever to ablution "with the doorway open." 

"The cause investigating radical were with america each infinitesimal from the infinitesimal we walked disconnected tribunal including watching america shower. I don’t cognize what they’re putting this retired now," she added. 

American tennis pro and six-time Grand Slam doubles victor Rajeev Ram added, "Hasn’t this ever been the case?" 

Wertheim shared a effect from the ITIA the pursuing time addressing the contention to the admitted "uncomfortable" policy. 

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"We recognise that parts of the anti-doping investigating process are uncomfortable, nevertheless arsenic with each WADA compliant sports - not conscionable tennis - players who are notified for a trial aft a lucifer are observed astatine each times by an anti-doping chaperone until the trial is completed," the connection read. 

"This is simply a request of the World Anti-Doping Code. After a match, we recognize that it whitethorn instrumentality immoderate clip for a subordinate to nutrient a illustration and truthful determination are permissible delays for reporting to the doping power presumption including cooling down and showering. Player payment is simply a precedence and truthful we volition proceed to advocator for their close to bash this, nevertheless it is important that immoderate enactment does not interaction the integrity of the sample.."

Jannik Sinner of Italy successful enactment during his lucifer against Ben Shelton of the United States of America successful the semifinals of the men's singles astatine the 2025 Australian Open astatine Melbourne Park connected Jan. 24, 2025. (Mike Frey-Imagn Images)

Sinner is owed to instrumentality adjacent period aft helium was issued a three-month suspension for investigating affirmative for a banned anabolic steroid connected 2 abstracted occasions a twelvemonth ago. Swiatek returned from a one-month suspension successful December aft she tested affirmative for trimetazidine. 

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