Tennis player Serena Williams has slammed the drug test rules that surround the sport’s anti-doping protocols, criticizing the systems that require players to constantly declare their whereabouts to officials.
Speaking in an interview, Serena described the rules unprofessional and revealed that they were major factor in why she delayed her return to competitive tennis.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion explained that the requirement to be available was to pass the anti-doping testing before the official return to the women’s tour has forced her to balance family life and her post-retirement transition, as tennis whereabouts rules require players provide locations and time slots when they can be tested for each day of the year.
According to the rules and regulations, if one refuses or fails to update their whereabouts three times within 12 months, can lead to the player being sanctioned. The rules are also designed to ensure fairness and integrity in the sport.
Serena is unimpressed by the testing system, which changed her since she last played.
“It’s grueling. They changed the rules now. I didn’t know some of the rules. So apparently if you miss a test outside of your window, it still counts as missed. I’m like, I guess I can’t go pick up my kids,” Serena said.
Her stance has resonated with fans and fellow athletes, many of whom argue that the balance between regulation and respect for players’ lives is overdue for reassessment.
Her remarks come few days after the International Tennis Integrity Agency handed a four- year ban to former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.