Serena Williams Blasts Anti-Doping Rules at 44 as Wimbledon Return Revives Testing Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 29
Serena Williams Blasts Anti-Doping Rules at 44 as Wimbledon Return Revives Testing Scrutiny
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 29
Summary
Serena Williams, back in Wimbledon singles for the first time since 2022, called tennis anti-doping procedures "unprofessional" and "unreasonable" as she re-entered the testing pool.
The 44-year-old said the whereabouts system is grueling for a player juggling children, travel and two businesses, and complained that missing a tester outside her declared hour could still count against her.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency pushed back, saying no whereabouts rules have changed in recent years and that only an unsuccessful visit during the allocated hour may become a strike; three failures can trigger a charge.
The dispute lands as Wimbledon begins and anti-doping enforcement is already under scrutiny after 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova received a four-year ban for refusing a test.
Williams, entering singles as a wild card and doubles with Venus for the first time since 2016, said the system was a major reason she hesitated to return.