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SERENA RAISES ALARM OVER ‘DISCRIMINATIVE’ DOPE TESTS

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Tennis sensation, Serena Williams has said that she is a victim of “discrimination” as she is the most drug tested American tennis player.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made the claim in a tweet on Tuesday, after doping officials visited her.

The American had previously expressed frustration about the volume of her tests earlier this month.

“Out of all the players it’s been proven I’m the one getting tested the most. Discrimination? I think so,” said the 36-year-old.

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An article published by website Deadspin in June revealed that Williams had been tested out of competition by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) on five occasions in 2018.

It also claimed the player was not present when Usada officials visited her home on 14 June – Williams stated that the tester showed up 12 hours earlier than the agreed time.

It was eventually marked as a “missed test” – three of those would result in a Usada doping violation.

At the time of publication of the Deadspin article, Williams had been tested more than twice as many times as other top American players – male or female – including US Open champion Sloane Stephens (one) and sister and multiple Grand Slam winner Venus Williams (two).

Williams was asked about the findings of the report during Wimbledon earlier this summer.

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“I never knew that I was tested so much more than everyone else,” said the seven-time champion, who lost to German Angelique Kerber in the final.

“Until I read that article I didn’t realise it was such a discrepancy with me as well as against the other players that they listed, at least the American players – both male and female.”

 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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