Would undergoing limb-lengthening surgery be considered cheating in tennis?

Would undergoing limb-lengthening surgery be considered cheating in tennis?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 6.7%

  • No

    Votes: 13 86.7%

  • Unsure

    Votes: 1 6.7%
  • Total voters
    15
Megafanoftennis100

Megafanoftennis100

Hall of Fame
Of course, having long arms and legs is an absolutely significant advantage in tennis, and I might even argue that it is a much bigger advantage than taking PEDs (e.g. Clostebol).
Someone with short limbs would unfortunately never be able to reach the top level in tennis, let alone win any notable titles. It just isn't possible to hit with precision, especially with DTL shots, if you have short limbs.
However, what if a player with short limbs decided to undergo limb lengthening surgery in order to overcome their genetic limitations, so that they can improve their tennis?
While the ATP rule book clearly states that taking PEDs is prohibited, I doubt it says anything about the ethical implications of having limb lengthening surgery.
 
I've heard of a player named Noodle in Japan, that had his neck lengthened an extra ten inches so he could see moonballs better.
Unfortunately, on a savage night that will now live in infamy forever, he somehow got into an argument with a tuff gang
of drunken Samurai swordsmen, and suddenly one said, "Hey Guys, let's use this fool's neck for target practice!!"
The good news...they were too drunk to swing their swords. The bad news...Noodle gave up tennis, for fear of swinging racquets.
------ So Be It :rolleyes: ------
 
Last edited:
1. As far as I am aware, limb-lengthening surgery has never been used for the attainment of athletic advantage, but only for cosmetic (typically in men who experience social distress from being short) or rehabilitative (i.e., in people with dwarfism) purposes. For the former, the lengthening is normally limited to the legs; for the latter, the process can include the legs and arms.

2. The process can take many years to complete. During all this time, the patient will be partially disabled. And learning anew to operate the body with the longer legs requires lots of physical therapy. For a patient who did not have dwarfism, but was simply rather short and wanted to be taller, there's probably a good chance he'd be a worse athlete afterward, not a better one.

3. The upshot is that a person could spend the core of his youth learning how to be an elite tennis player, or having his limbs lengthened, but not both.
 
I know of a guy who had a growth plate injury as a toddler that left his legs 4” different lengths. He had his longer femur shortened by 4” to balance out. He ended up being 6’5” after the 4” cutdown. But short legs for his height and long arms. Was an excellent rebounder on his D3 hoops team.
 
Once they allowed breast reduction surgery the precedent was set.
That meant any operation to the body was fair game, so long as you survived.
So if you have a thing for four eyes, or three arms/legs, I'd say go for it!
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
Of course, having long arms and legs is an absolutely significant advantage in tennis, and I might even argue that it is a much bigger advantage than taking PEDs (e.g. Clostebol).
Someone with short limbs would unfortunately never be able to reach the top level in tennis, let alone win any notable titles. It just isn't possible to hit with precision, especially with DTL shots, if you have short limbs.
However, what if a player with short limbs decided to undergo limb lengthening surgery in order to overcome their genetic limitations, so that they can improve their tennis?
While the ATP rule book clearly states that taking PEDs is prohibited, I doubt it says anything about the ethical implications of having limb lengthening surgery.
Click to expand...
First of all, longer and taller players do not win many slams...

The most slams were won by players from 188 cm and below, players over 1.90 cm are only now starting to win a little...

Alcaraz is 182 cm and somehow manages, and why because the best height for a tennis player is 185 cm, and you don't have to be a giant to win a slam.!!

Opelka, Karlovic, Isner, these are players who often have to struggle on the court, and they don't have it any easier with their height...

Kevin Anderson lost 3:2 (winning 2:0) in Roland Garros to Diego Schwartzmann, and as we know he is short.!!

Limb surgery is quite risky for a tennis player, today if I were 15-17 years old again,
I would focus on stretching my body.

But I certainly wouldn't want to be a giant like Sinner or Del Potro, I'd prefer optimal height.!!

It's possible that someday when transhumanism is fully developed, we'll see many different body transfirmations without doping...

However, I think that limb-lengthening surgery can be a threat to a tennis player's career, and it's better not to do it...
 
As others have said, these surgeries destroy any chance of elite athleticism a person may have had. Not cheating, it’s closer to self sabotage.

If we reach a time where we can genetically modify babies to be freak athletes, that’s when this kind of discussion will take place.
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
Of course, having long arms and legs is an absolutely significant advantage in tennis, and I might even argue that it is a much bigger advantage than taking PEDs (e.g. Clostebol).
Someone with short limbs would unfortunately never be able to reach the top level in tennis, let alone win any notable titles. It just isn't possible to hit with precision, especially with DTL shots, if you have short limbs.
However, what if a player with short limbs decided to undergo limb lengthening surgery in order to overcome their genetic limitations, so that they can improve their tennis?
While the ATP rule book clearly states that taking PEDs is prohibited, I doubt it says anything about the ethical implications of having limb lengthening surgery.
Click to expand...
Mate all the juniors are on growth hormones.
 
BumElbow said:
Just buy an extended length racquet.
Click to expand...
It's funny you should say that, because I was actually giving thought to this silly thread
and thought about racket length.

Let's have a poll.

We know the 6'4" + players have a distinct advantage over the <6' players.

How about the ATP and WTA allow players shorter than 6' to play with extended
rackets up until 34"?

That would give players a level field to play on.
 
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