Clijsters: Bans 'extremely harsh'
AFP - Sun, 08 Nov 10:16:00 2009
US Open champion Kim Clijsters has 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 both handed one-year bans by the Flemish Doping Tribunal 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," Clijsters said on her Twitter page.
"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.
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 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.
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Comment 1 - 11 of 11
Ridiculous.....I have never heard of any other instance where a person is handed punishment for NOT HAVING COMMITTED A CRIME or for NOT being proven guilty of any offence. 1 Year ban from the tour could cost these athletes hundreds of thousands of lost income. If the idea of the "whereabouts rule" is to keep the sport clean of drug use, the 1 year ban automatically assumes these athletes as GUILTY. Whatever happened to Innocent until proven guilty? The Tennis Officials have lost the plot. It's they who appear to be on drugs.
I heard Yanina on flemish tv sunday evening and my opinion is that the execution of
the "whereabouts" is not properly worked out, the rules are clear but the way to
enforce them by the players is not well determined and will now and, most probably in
the future, cause many incidents, tears, injustice and breadrobbing consequences.
This subject isn't closed yet and there will be a massive follow-up, believe me ...
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.
And Agassi???, and dont speak about Mc Enroe???
If you are Yanq dop without fear/ if you are not. dont Drink even mineral water.
A shame. another inequity not punished!!!
wen she is one of the most respected and talented players on tour. So i would say that gives her a platform to question.
who is she to question?she must be tested.....fat girl
Do any of you bureaucrats know where you will be every hour, in advance for the next 3 months. If these overpaid pen pushers want to find any tennis player at any time they should be the ones to do the finding not make it the responsibility of the players. It should not be that difficult.
Agree with good2bgood333 if they had nothing to hide should be ok with doping comitte
Do any of you bureaucrats know where you will be every hour, in advance for the next 3 months. If these overpaid pen pushers want to find any tennis player at any time they should be the ones to do the finding not make it the responsibility of the players. It should not be that difficult.
don`t obviously show ur bias to your local belgian tennis friends.
they didn`t show. surely because they have hidden something . that`s for sure.
and regarding their ban yeah it`s a little bit harsh , because it had to come at a tough time for the wta and atp and the whole tennis world , where some of the best retired athletes confesses his dopinh issue and acknowledge that he has manipulated on the doping committee.
but keep in mind tennis has been always clean sport . not like cycling or other sports which has been somehow ruined by this cheating conducts
if they had nothing to hide, why stay away when their whereabouts were demanded? "A clear conscience they say, fears no accusation" i believe players like Roger and Serena won't make that so-called mistake because they know what it means to them playing in grand slams and on the tours..
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