BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgian star Kim Clijsters on Saturday slammed the "extremely harsh" sanctions imposed on compatriots Xavier Malisse and Yanina Wickmayer for missing drug tests.
US Open semi-finalist Wickmayer and Malisse were on Thursday handed one-year bans by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) for falling foul of doping regulations.
Wickmayer, the world number 18, was suspended for failing to fulfill the controversial "whereabouts rule" while Malisse was also punished for missing a drug test.
"To receive a one-year ban because of this seems extremely harsh and is potentially career-ending for both of them," US Open champion Clijsters said on her Twitter message system.
"While they may not have followed correct administration, they did not register a positive doping offence either.
"I feel I have to write about this. Its very, very unfortunate what?s happened to Yanina and Xavier this week."
"I hope the authorities and athletes can work together on finding better solutions to keep our sports clean."
Both players can appeal against their suspensions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Wickmayer was accused of failing on three occasions to fulfill the ADAMS (Anti-Doping Administration and Management System), under which athletes are obliged to tell national anti-doping authorities where they will be at a chosen hour each day for a three-month period.
Malisse was punished for missing a dope test and for twice failing to fulfill the ADAMS.
The sanctions came as a surprise as only last month it was expected that the two players would escape with just a reprimand.
The suspensions on Malisse and Wickmayer run until November 4, 2010.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Saturday that it backed the decision taken by the Belgian authorities.
"The ITF recognises and respects the decision of VDT, and shall take all steps necessary to enforce and give effect to it," said a statement.
Comment 1 - 6 of 6
Andrew Broad(comment 3),you have a broad array of brain bolt malfunctions.Serena has nothing to do with whether a Belgian was caught doping or not.Jealousy and hatred will finally reward you with a gangrene consommation if you don't do away with this attitude.Bitter people will always display these traits.
Honestly tell me why you have to blame Serena for these Belgians' ban.Get a life you small-minded numskull.
I agree with the honeybeecro7. Players know the rules and if they do not follow them they should be punished. However I would suggest taking away one year earnings (the immediate past 52 weeks) as a punishment instead one year ban to play.
They should ban Novak Djokovic he's always cheating anyway
Whereabouts-bans are ridiculous. If they're going to treat tennis-players as criminals, why not fit them with electronic tags? A classic case of the innocent being punished, while the guilty (Serena Williams and Agassi) are probably going to get off practically scot-free.
Who cares about missing a test...All athletes at one time or another took something to gain an advantage.....hormone shots when recovering from injury; cold medication when battling flu; antibiotics when trying to rid themselves of flu: steroids after an injury; pot when partying and relaxing; alcohol when celebrating a victory...Stop the moral doping police!!!
Of course this is harsh-but rules are the same for all-if they failed to notify anti-doping authorities only once then I could understand that but three times means that they are either reckless or have something to hide.Players have plenty people around them to remind them of these kinds of things.If all players were allowed to get away with this it would be chaos.But really harsh financial fine would be a better solution and if they do it again then ban them for a year.At least some charity would benefit rather than bureaucracy.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account