Tennis is one of the cleanest sports in the world, for that we should be proud!

[Nathaniel_Near]

This gloriously unobtrusive and innocent thread which was posted with at least 47% sincerity has yielded some contrasting results (and some humour along the way, something which Nadal is seeking after losing his HGH). Although I would personally never ever play devil's advocate on a tennis forum (all my numerous other devil's advocate threads should be ignored and not used as evidence against this claim), It must be said that this thread has the potential to turn into a melting pot of discussion, speculation, implication and possible half-proofs.

To my absolute genuine SHOCK :shock: and HORROR , it would appear that many have doubts about whether so many of these fabled and coveted tennis players are actually indeed off the koolaid. With that said, I would like to usher this thread into phase 2: The discussion and expounding of legitimately questionable aspects of the drugs testing on the ATP/WTA tours, and what possible ramifications arise as a consequence.

Those then with the knowledge, could you respectfully offer some valid reasoning for your doubt over the integrity of this possibly somewhat clean sport? Thank you all for your curiosity and discussion of such a ticklish topic, which is certainly warranted providing that we can all at least be 62% serious when contributing to the thread. *Deadly serious face*

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

I urge you fine contributors to brighten up this threads miserable life!

 

[Fed Kennedy]

If you watched AO finals and think tennis is clean you are a moron. I think this PED enhanced tennis is actually quite fun to watch, as players spread the court and pull off sick gets etc but you are absolutely kidding yourself if you think the sport is clean. Barry Bonds never tested positive for PEDs. You think he was clean. Get real!

 

[rommil]

Rafa sniffs crack all the time before he serves.

 

[CocaCola]

If you watched AO finals and think tennis is clean you are a moron. I think this PED enhanced tennis is actually quite fun to watch, as players spread the court and pull off sick gets etc but you are absolutely kidding yourself if you think the sport is clean. Barry Bonds never tested positive for PEDs. You think he was clean. Get real!

Slow down, conspirator. Top 4 were all tested after their SF and F matches at AO, even after that 6 hours finals. That's enough for me to believe that they're all clean. Those are the facts.

 

[Bobby Jr]

If you watched AO finals and think tennis is clean you are a moron.

I'm not so sure it's this definitive. Plenty of people undertake relatively strenuous sporting activities for that long - and with no break. Multisport event racers, for example, can race for close to 12 hours non-stop. While there are undoubtedly PED abusers there also there are tons who do it without too.

When you consider that this almost 6 hour match included over 1.5 hours of rest time with the opportunity to constantly rehydrate, eat, sit down it isn't nearly as impossible to achieve as you might think. To do it at the level Nadal and Djokovic did? - for sure it's hard.

Players were playing 5+ hour matches in the 1970s and for some of that time they weren't even allowed to sit down at ends. Surely this was before PEDs could feasibly have been in use in tennis?

 

[Limpinhitter]

Rafa sniffs crack all the time before he serves.

BEST POST OF THE WEEK!!!

 

[Sentinel]

Rafa sniffs crack all the time before he serves.

Is that performance enhancing ?

I know for a fact that that kind of stuff is used for natural gas, but didn't know ammonia and methane could keep you going longer. This is game changing stuff -- first give up gluten, second sniff crack !

 

[rommil]

Is that performance enhancing ?

I know for a fact that that kind of stuff is used for natural gas, but didn't know ammonia and methane could keep you going longer. This is game changing stuff -- first give up gluten, second sniff crack !

The Ralph is a nervous player.........sniffing cracks relaxes him and gives him self control not to do pelvic thrusts celebrations when his opponents double faults.

 

[merlinpinpin]

Players were playing 5+ hour matches in the 1970s and for some of that time they weren't even allowed to sit down at ends. Surely this was before PEDs could feasibly have been in use in tennis?

Sure, but they were walking to the ball. Compared to today's tennis, their sport was about as strenuous as playing golf...

 

[merlinpinpin]

Slow down, conspirator. Top 4 were all tested after their SF and F matches at AO, even after that 6 hours finals. That's enough for me to believe that they're all clean. Those are the facts.

Ahem. And you know of absolutely no athlete that wasn't clean although they tested negative, I suppose?

 

[Fed Kennedy]

Slow down, conspirator. Top 4 were all tested after their SF and F matches at AO, even after that 6 hours finals. That's enough for me to believe that they're all clean. Those are the facts.

Lol.
Barry Bonds, Lance Armstrong never tested positive. Wayne Odesnik never tested positive.

 

[CDestroyer]

The Ralph is a nervous player.........sniffing cracks relaxes him and gives him self control not to do pelvic thrusts celebrations when his opponents double faults.

LOL. Xanax crack sniffing Ralph.

 

[CocaCola]

Ahem. And you know of absolutely no athlete that wasn't clean although they tested negative, I suppose?

Lol.
Barry Bonds, Lance Armstrong never tested positive. Wayne Odesnik never tested positive.

I don't know how to put this to you so you can cognitively process it in an appropriate way. No-one is innocent theory...got it. I'm talking about tennis, not bicyclism. What is your lead here except for pure conspiracy BS? You have some ITF insider? You're lying. When I read an interview with Djoker's father where he says he hasn't heard from him the night he won AO because he was on a doping control for hours, I'll believe that. Odesnik, Kendrick...wow. So now it's top players together with ITF? Disrespectful. We've gone through all this already after Nadal and AO '09.
Every bigger sporting organisation is perfectly aware of doping these days and it surely does not need persons like you to point it out to them.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

I don't know how to put this to you so you can cognitively process it in an appropriate way. No-one is innocent theory...got it. I'm talking about tennis, not bicyclism. What is your lead here except for pure conspiracy BS? You have some ITF insider? You're lying. When I read an interview with Djoker's father where he says he hasn't heard from him the night he won AO because he was on a doping control for hours, I'll believe that. Odesnik, Kendrick...wow. So now it's top players together with ITF? Disrespectful. We've gone through all this already after Nadal and AO '09.
Every bigger sporting organisation is perfectly aware of doping these days and it surely does not need persons like you to point it out to them.

Im not pointing it out to them. Im just a tennis fan. I like it the way it is, its super fun to watch, I just dont think the tour is clean thats all!

 

[NamRanger]

I don't know how to put this to you so you can cognitively process it in an appropriate way. No-one is innocent theory...got it. I'm talking about tennis, not bicyclism. What is your lead here except for pure conspiracy BS? You have some ITF insider? You're lying. When I read an interview with Djoker's father where he says he hasn't heard from him the night he won AO because he was on a doping control for hours, I'll believe that. Odesnik, Kendrick...wow. So now it's top players together with ITF? Disrespectful. We've gone through all this already after Nadal and AO '09.
Every bigger sporting organisation is perfectly aware of doping these days and it surely does not need persons like you to point it out to them.

You should try doing some research into the testing methods of the ITF before coming out and spewing nonsense about how the testing is fine. Tennis puts up an illusion that they test heavily, but in reality the testing is some of the most laxed out of any internationally played sport out there.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

You should try doing some research into the testing methods of the ITF before coming out and spewing nonsense about how the testing is fine. Tennis puts up an illusion that they test heavily, but in reality the testing is some of the most laxed out of any internationally played sport out there.

+1.
I bring up Odesnik becuase he didnt get caught by testing. He got caught by airport security. I mean...LOL to the max dude. Airport security.

Djokovic freely admits to using a blood regenerating pod at the USO that WADA claims violates the spirit of sport...but thats it. They just say its not cool but there is no fallout.

Lastly, I am not taking Djokovics fathers word on any matter.

 

[CocaCola]

You should try doing some research into the testing methods of the ITF before coming out and spewing nonsense about how the testing is fine. Tennis puts up an illusion that they test heavily, but in reality the testing is some of the most laxed out of any internationally played sport out there.

Uggff..ok smart-ass. Care to elaborate? They haven't tested players so often and they only tested urine samples prior to 2010. That obviously wasn't enough so they changed it.
Since then it's blood and urine at every tournament plus those surprise testings.
They send samples for analysis to WADA. Same thing with soccer etc.

 

[NamRanger]

Uggff..ok smart-ass. Care to elaborate? They haven't tested players so often and they only tested urine samples prior to 2010. That obviously wasn't enough so they changed it.
Since then it's blood and urine at every tournament plus those surprise testings.
They send samples for analysis to WADA. Same thing with soccer etc.

1) Their testosterone blood level measurements are way off. I think it's something like a 4:1 ratio, so if you stay within those limits you are fine and dandy.

2) They only blood test at slams as far as I remember, and only the top level players. Means easy to just cycle off before the slam while still having all the great benefits of PEDs.

3) There is no such thing as a surprise test. All that nonsense about the surprise visit is just hilarious. Players are to give supervisors times that they will be available, and specific dates. They must be available at all times during these dates/times. You just avoid cycling during this time period. It's really not that hard.

4) They just started testing for EPO just recently, a drug that has been in cycling for almost a decade or so. You seriously think there aren't any newer drugs out there?

5) I'm fairly certain they don't even test during the offseason, when most players would utilize PEDs in the first place to accelerate growth rapidly.

 

[Clarky21]

1) Their testosterone blood level measurements are way off. I think it's something like a 4:1 ratio, so if you stay within those limits you are fine and dandy.

2) They only blood test at slams as far as I remember, and only the top level players. Means easy to just cycle off before the slam while still having all the great benefits of PEDs.

3) There is no such thing as a surprise test. All that nonsense about the surprise visit is just hilarious. Players are to give supervisors times that they will be available, and specific dates. They must be available at all times during these dates/times. You just avoid cycling during this time period. It's really not that hard.

4) They just started testing for EPO just recently, a drug that has been in cycling for almost a decade or so. You seriously think there aren't any newer drugs out there?

5) I'm fairly certain they don't even test during the offseason, when most players would utilize PEDs in the first place to accelerate growth rapidly.

Great post. Testing in tennis is pathetic. They are all likely taking something and getting away with it easier than anyone could ever imagine.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

1) Their testosterone blood level measurements are way off. I think it's something like a 4:1 ratio, so if you stay within those limits you are fine and dandy.

2) They only blood test at slams as far as I remember, and only the top level players. Means easy to just cycle off before the slam while still having all the great benefits of PEDs.

3) There is no such thing as a surprise test. All that nonsense about the surprise visit is just hilarious. Players are to give supervisors times that they will be available, and specific dates. They must be available at all times during these dates/times. You just avoid cycling during this time period. It's really not that hard.

4) They just started testing for EPO just recently, a drug that has been in cycling for almost a decade or so. You seriously think there aren't any newer drugs out there?

5) I'm fairly certain they don't even test during the offseason, when most players would utilize PEDs in the first place to accelerate growth rapidly.

You mean they only test for EPO and not the new super strain, CERA???

 

[CocaCola]

1) Their testosterone blood level measurements are way off. I think it's something like a 4:1 ratio, so if you stay within those limits you are fine and dandy.

2) They only blood test at slams as far as I remember, and only the top level players. Means easy to just cycle off before the slam while still having all the great benefits of PEDs.

3) There is no such thing as a surprise test. All that nonsense about the surprise visit is just hilarious. Players are to give supervisors times that they will be available, and specific dates. They must be available at all times during these dates/times. You just avoid cycling during this time period. It's really not that hard.

4) They just started testing for EPO just recently, a drug that has been in cycling for almost a decade or so. You seriously think there aren't any newer drugs out there?

5) I'm fairly certain they don't even test during the offseason, when most players would utilize PEDs in the first place to accelerate growth rapidly.

That is interesting. Can you provide a link or something about allowed level?

They obviously use the same 2012 WADC prohibition substances list as all major sports which includes EPO, CERA etc. So if some new drug can fool them, it will also fool IAAF of FIFA.

Yeah, blood tests should take place more often, but you can see on ITF site that they also tesed blood at some minor tournaments in previous years.

http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/pdf/original/IO_61472_original.PDF

To conclude...I don't think tennis has a major doping issue and I'm sure top players aren't using PEDs.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Why be so sure, given the incredibly lax testing in tennis??? They also only test the losers in Slams until after the final itself. This seems somewhat odd, there'd be no harm in taking urine tests after some players also win (blood tests, probably not).

 

[CocaCola]

Why be so sure, given the incredibly lax testing in tennis??? They also only test the losers in Slams until after the final itself. This seems somewhat odd, there'd be no harm in taking urine tests after some players also win (blood tests, probably not).

I love tennis and enjoy current era, 2012 anti-doping program seems fine (testing will only become more often), no one's proven me wrong (no top 50 player being positive). Enough for me.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

I love tennis and enjoy current era, 2012 anti-doping program seems fine (testing will only become more often), no one's proven me wrong (no top 50 player being positive). Enough for me.

Well if they have been proven positive then there is a good chance the players will be too high profile for the ITF/ATP to let us know about it and the players might incur some kind of silent ban or a slap on the wrist. BUT, I would expect very few to be caught. Given how infrequently players are tested and how predictable the protocols for testing are (i.e. being able to skip doping tests by withdrawing from Davis Cup Ties!), it would be VERY easy to cycle on and off illegal substances and never be caught anyway!

 

[Clarky21]

I love tennis and enjoy current era, 2012 anti-doping program seems fine (testing will only become more often), no one's proven me wrong (no top 50 player being positive). Enough for me.

Sorry,but you are incredibly naive.

 

[CocaCola]

Sorry,but you are incredibly naive.

Not even close. I'm not a blind die-hard fan nor pessimistic conspiracy fan. I'm simply realistic.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Not even close. I'm simply realistic.

To be realistic is to appreciate that the testing is so lax and in some ways predictable that it would be easy for athletes to cycle on and off drugs and clear their systems very quickly before needing to worry about being drugs tested. The DC example is a good one; if a player withdraws from the tie they can avoid the drugs testing that would have been put into process at the tie.

 

[ViscaB]

Here we go again... how do you know they haven't been caught? When someone gets caught speeding on the motorway does everyone find out? No. The police know and the driver. Are we all on the same wavelength?!?

Exactly. And we all know that they protected Agassi when he tested positive for drugs in the past.

 

[PCXL-Fan]

Not even close. I'm not a blind die-hard fan nor pessimistic conspiracy fan. I'm simply realistic.

Realist?... oh boy.... you basing your opinion on fluff filled faith rather than scrutinizing the facts about the state of WADA and the state of PEDs.

The fact you make every attempt to dismiss specific issues and those that present them speaks volumes.

 

[CocaCola]

Realist?... oh boy.... you basing your opinion on fluff filled faith rather than scrutinizing the facts about the state of WADA and the state of PEDs.

The fact you make every attempt to dismiss specific issues and those that present them speaks volumes.

Fluff filled faith? How about a simple "f**k off"?!

 

[Seany]

If you want to see someone who is absolutely 100% taking PED's...Look no further than David Ferrer, he started about 2 or 3 years ago.

 

[volleygirl]

I love tennis and enjoy current era, 2012 anti-doping program seems fine (testing will only become more often), no one's proven me wrong (no top 50 player being positive). Enough for me.

I hate PEDs and sure hope the usage is not an epidemic in tennis but you seem like youve got your head in the sand in how youre coming across. Like the one guy said earlier, Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds were both able to pass the tests and its impossible to believe they didnt cheat. The cheaters are ahead of the tests and I hope the big time players arent cheating but to act like theres no way anyones cheating is closing your eyes to reality when all the other sports have proven to have cheaters.

 

[MDCCLXXVI]

Easy to pass drug tests in all pro sports.

Just pop some esters to speed up the half-life of the anabolic agents in the blood and the **** test appears clean.

blood test is a little harder.

--

oral PEDs sometimes result in acne due to organ toxicity, so its easy--at a gym for instance--to point out someone that is likely abusing (or just using) PEDs. They're absolutely massive, and they got severe acne all over. <---- 100% drug abuser.

Since none--or very few--of the top players have serious acne from organ toxicity its fair to say they arent taking oral substances. Instead they'd go the injection route, which is more effective anyways, although the pathological markers are present longer.

Its highly likely none of the top X players would be using illegal substances WHILE PERFORMING at a tournament, however it is 100% likely they are really smashing the drugs (legal and illegal) in their downtime/offseason/breaks.

And honestly, the schedule is so packed right now that I am not surprised and I don't blame them.

I do, however, blame the monopoly the ATP has over these players lives. Squeezing them for performance like a moist spongue.

 

[Benhur]

Its highly likely none of the top X players would be using illegal substances WHILE PERFORMING at a tournament, however it is 100% likely they are really smashing the drugs (legal and illegal) in their downtime/offseason/breaks.

This distinction doesn’t make sense to me. There is no offseason for testing, and players can be required to give a blood sample at any time. So if they are using something, it would have to be something that cannot be detected at any time. (The only other possibility is that the tests are only for show.) But if they were using something that cannot be detected, it wouldn't matter whether they did it during tournaments or between tournaments.

 

[celoft]

Just want to express that we are fortunate to be following a sport which doesn't have the constant aura of suspicion surrounding it regarding performance enhancing drugs. In an era of sport which has seen various doping scandals and stories from a myriad of different sports, tennis remains virtually untouched!


Despite the massively rigourous testing protocols that are enforced by the ITF/ATP alongside the WADA, tennis continues to shine as a beacon of honesty and integrity, and long may it last.

Lovely sarcasm. :lol:


http://tennishasasteroidproblem.blogspot.com/2012/01/open-thread-aussie-open-final.html

 

[Sentinel]

If you want to see someone who is absolutely 100% taking PED's...Look no further than David Ferrer, he started about 2 or 3 years ago.

He inhales Camel Lights. I've seen him. I know folks who've seen him. We have a water-tight case!

 

[CocaCola]

I hate PEDs and sure hope the usage is not an epidemic in tennis but you seem like youve got your head in the sand in how youre coming across. Like the one guy said earlier, Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds were both able to pass the tests and its impossible to believe they didnt cheat. The cheaters are ahead of the tests and I hope the big time players arent cheating but to act like theres no way anyones cheating is closing your eyes to reality when all the other sports have proven to have cheaters.

Again, and for the last time, I never said there's no chance anyone is cheating. I just stated that I think tennis hasn't got a big doping problems especially among the top players. Maybe I made a mistake saying that I enjoy watching current era, so now these PEDs occupied fans are mocking me for being naive or whatever.

 

[diggler]

Apologies for entering this thread late and not reading every post.

My understanding is that players have to nominate one hour each day where they can be tested. How does a cheat get around this?

 

[bullfan]

Apologies for entering this thread late and not reading every post.

My understanding is that players have to nominate one hour each day where they can be tested. How does a cheat get around this?

How long did many drug cheats get past the testers... Tennis seems to only look at low level folks.... One must be absurdly niave to think that there's no illegal drugs at the top levels when there are millions on line.... A known quitter all of sudden becomes the penultimate player, who wasn't shown to be feeling it after Rafa was...... I knew Novak wanted to have a 5 SF and 5 F..... His doctor rules!

 

[Sentinel]

How long did many drug cheats get past the testers... Tennis seems to only look at low level folks.... One must be absurdly niave to think that there's no illegal drugs at the top levels when there are millions on line.... A known quitter all of sudden becomes the penultimate player, who wasn't shown to be feeling it after Rafa was...... I knew Novak wanted to have a 5 SF and 5 F..... His doctor rules!

Ironic coming from a bull fan. Thanks for the early morning laugh.

 

[NamRanger]

This distinction doesn’t make sense to me. There is no offseason for testing, and players can be required to give a blood sample at any time. So if they are using something, it would have to be something that cannot be detected at any time. (The only other possibility is that the tests are only for show.) But if they were using something that cannot be detected, it wouldn't matter whether they did it during tournaments or between tournaments.

Most tennis players would use it to train harder during the offseason, that's where the distinction comes in.

 

[monfed]

Ralph just needs to upgrade his PEDs and all will be fine.

 

[Bjorn99]

Again and again, the average joe would be a LOT better off taking those same substances. We are at historic toxic levels of estrogen in our bodies. Steroids are a viable way out of a very bad situation.

 

[Sentinel]

Again and again, the average joe would be a LOT better off taking those same substances. We are at historic toxic levels of estrogen in our bodies. Steroids are a viable way out of a very bad situation.

After a while you'll find this happening to you ...
http://youtu.be/e5UWhewMXzE

 

[kiki]

In the 70´s and 80´s players took coke and hachis for fun, but nowadays, they all take PEDS because almost every other athlethe in a single sport ( running, boxing,biking,golf) do...

 

[aprilfool]

Joseph Goebbel? I've heard of him. He owns Fox "News" , right?

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Given how little testing goes on in tennis -- something which I've learned more recently, thanks to more informed people -- wouldn't it be fair to suggest that probably many players are indeed doping? Some probably do occasionally get caught too but we'll hear as little as possible to uphold the 'real or imagined integrity of the sport'.

 

[mellowyellow]

Here is one for everyone to look at, during the Team Tennis this year, I saw Serena next to Paes playing doubles. When I noticed how much smaller he was compared to her I had too look up their stats and he was listed as 5'10" 175lbs, she was listed as 5'10" 155lbs, she has got to be 195 if Paes is even close to 175. Now for a woman training for tennis, what is wrong with this picture? Looking at her bulk and lack of activity, the embolism, their is a good bit of circumstantial evidence pointing to you know what....

 

[NamRanger]

Given how little testing goes on in tennis -- something which I've learned more recently, thanks to more informed people -- wouldn't it be fair to suggest that probably many players are indeed doping? Some probably do occasionally get caught too but we'll hear as little as possible to uphold the 'real or imagined integrity of the sport'.

The ATP would just ignore it. Look at how Rusedski got away with blatant cheating. The WADA said that the ATP's explanation didn't make any sense (and it really doesn't). They tested the supposedly contaminated supplements and found nothing.