AFP/Bertrand Guayview photoPARIS (AFP) - Women's tennis world number one Serena Williams has echoed her male counterpart Rafael Nadal's criticism of new anti-doping procedures in the sport.
The new rules mean players must let drug-testers know their whereabouts for a period of one hour on every day of the week - a measure which Nadal said makes players feel "like a criminal".
The previous version of the rule obliged players to keep anti-doping authorities informed of their whereabouts on only five days a week.
Britain's Andy Murray described the measures as "draconian", and Williams, speaking after her 6-1, 6-2 victory over Karolina Sprem in the second round of the Paris Open on Thursday, agreed.
"It's too much," she said. "If I want to go on vacation to Barbados for one day, I shouldn't have to say I'm going to Barbados.
"I'm always complaining to my agents. I never tell people where I am, because I like to do my own thing."
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rule operates on a 'three strikes and out' basis over a period of 18 months, and Williams revealed that she had already fallen foul of the legislation.
"One time, I was out at dinner and someone turned up at my house to test me. I think I might even have got a strike.
"It's bizarre. I can't run home from dinner and get tested. It's very invasive."
Despite her reservations, though, Williams accepts that WADA's stance helps safeguard the sport's reputation.
"I think tennis is the purest sport out there," she said.
"We won't have problems in tennis that we have in other sports, so it's definitely a pure sport and that's the only upside to it."
Comment 1 - 6 of 6
UNREASINABLE!
stupid IDEA!
foxy_lady67 this must be your first time on this board. Poorman is so poor in his delivery all he ever does is insult and call names. You would do welll to ignore his comments sometimes.
Poorman3000 there is no need for name calling. everyone is entitled to their own opinion, wouldn't u agree?
Top-fifty players are highly-paid, privileged individuals, so I don't think the drug-testing requirements are unreasonable if the players get to choose when and where that hour is. I mean, you'd have to be pretty stupid to declare your availability for an hour when you're likely to go out for a meal, and then actually go out for a meal during that hour, wouldn't you?
I just hope that these new regulations won't lead to a spate of early retirements - that's the only downside to it.
well said Serena! They forget that u have a life and not robotic like some people!
ridiculous drug testing programme
should be tested weekly
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