[ExpodoDop]

Decision in the case of Yanina Wickmayer


The International Tennis Federation announced today that Yanina Wickmayer has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

The Vlaams Doping Tribunal (VDT) has ruled that Ms Wickmayer, a 20-year old tennis player from Belgium, has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.4 of the 2009 WADA Code (violation of Athlete Availability for Out-of-Competition Testing). As a member of the Flanders (Belgium) Registered Testing Pool, Ms Wickmayer was required to provide whereabouts in accordance with the mandatory requirements of the 2009 WADA Code. The VDT determined that Ms Wickmayer failed to meet the whereabouts filing requirements on three occasions in 2009. The commission of three Whereabouts Failures in any 18-month period is an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under the 2009 WADA Code.

VDT confirmed the commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and determined that Ms Wickmayer should be suspended for one year, commencing on 5 November 2009 and ending on 4 November 2010. National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) Flanders, on whose behalf VDT heard the case, is a signatory to the WADA Code, and in accordance with Article Q.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, the ITF (and, therefore, its member National Associations) recognises and respects the decision of VDT, and shall take all steps necessary to enforce and give effect to it.

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognised drug-testing programme that applies to all players competing at tournaments sanctioned by the ITF, ATP World Tour, and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and upon a finding that a Doping Offence has been committed, sanctions are imposed in accordance with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code. More background information on the Programme, sanctions, tennis statistics and related information can be found at www.itftennis.com/antidoping.

- ENDS -

[vipBrooriErok]

After posting a blog about cheating, I am on record. And as much as I feel bad for Wickmayer, IF the rules call for a suspension, and IF the rules specifically state a one year suspension, then the rules are there to be followed.
I find it harsh, but...

[peemovvie]

Here’s what ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti told the AP in Italy: "This reminds me of the cases of Italian players involved in betting a little while ago," Ricci Bitti said. "These players need to be aware of their responsibilities. If they don't know, this is the result. These cases create discussion because they're not reliant on positive tests, but there are rules to respect…These kids need to wake up. They're professionals and they earn a lot of money. They don't need to merely know the rules, they should also respect them." http://www.tennisreporters.net/index.html

[RokgroofeTeme]

Thanks to Andre's revelation last week, the Belgian anti-doping people did not want to be embarrassed if they would have just warned her as reported a few weeks prior.

You can hardly compare the two situations.

Andre was engaging in recreational drugs and failed a drug test and lied about it. The ATP screwed up and covered it up. With his "confession"...he is trying to take some responsibility.

Wickmayer merely had procedural issues. She didn't test positive for anything and thus....what is there to be emabrrassed about? A warning would have been quite sufficient. Her situation had nothing to do with Andre's and just isn't comparable.

[RokgroofeTeme]

After posting a blog about cheating, I am on record. And as much as I feel bad for Wickmayer, IF the rules call for a suspension, and IF the rules specifically state a one year suspension, then the rules are there to be followed.
I find it harsh, but...

"sanctions are imposed in accordance...."

Do the rules actually call for a one year suspension? I think there is some leeway in....administering punishment.

[RokgroofeTeme]

Thank you TA. I just saw this. It's now 1 p.m. my time. Yesterday at 4 p.m. I said to myself, I wonder how long it will take for people to start blaming this on Agassi. Less than 24 hours.

It didn't even enter my mind that this would happen Guess I was looking at Andre's transparency in a different light

[TubOppomo]

You can hardly compare the two situations.

Andre was engaging in recreational drugs and failed a drug test and lied about it. The ATP screwed up and covered it up. With his "confession"...he is trying to take some responsibility.

Wickmayer merely had procedural issues. She didn't test positive for anything and thus....what is there to be emabrrassed about? A warning would have been quite sufficient. Her situation had nothing to do with Andre's and just isn't comparable.

Actually my first thought wasn't "blame agassi", but blame cycling. Cycling is HUGE in Belgium and of course there isn't another sport that has been caught up in doping affairs as cycling has been over the last few years. And there the lesson sadly was no smoke without fire. I remember reading countless articles about cyclists failing to inform the anti-doping-association about their where-abouts and few months later they actually failed a test.

I am by no means saying that this is the case for Yanina and Malisse. In fact, I think it is a shame that such a ruling puts both their careers at risk. Tennis doesn't have such a doping-prone history as cycling. It seems to be more a stupidity or carelessness, then a cover-up. So a warning or a much shorter suspension would have been enough.

[addyta.org]

You can hardly compare the two situations.

Andre was engaging in recreational drugs and failed a drug test and lied about it. The ATP screwed up and covered it up. With his "confession"...he is trying to take some responsibility.

Wickmayer merely had procedural issues. She didn't test positive for anything and thus....what is there to be emabrrassed about? A warning would have been quite sufficient. Her situation had nothing to do with Andre's and just isn't comparable.

Understand about procedural issues but word was that Yanina and Xavier was only going to get a warning before Andre came out with his news. Once received, the Belgian people handed down the year punishment.

[RokgroofeTeme]

Actually my first thought wasn't "blame agassi", but blame cycling. Cycling is HUGE in Belgium and of course there isn't another sport that has been caught up in doping affairs as cycling has been over the last few years. And there the lesson sadly was no smoke without fire. I remember reading countless articles about cyclists failing to inform the anti-doping-association about their where-abouts and few months later they actually failed a test.

I am by no means saying that this is the case for Yanina and Malisse. In fact, I think it is a shame that such a ruling puts both their careers at risk. Tennis doesn't have such a doping-prone history as cycling. It seems to be more a stupidity or carelessness, then a cover-up. So a warning or a much shorter suspension would have been enough.

Is there a case to be made that.....tennis was targeted and treated unfairly re: doping regulations than other sports? It's my understanding that it's the Belgium anti doping organization that found Wickmayer guilty and imposed the suspension....

[RokgroofeTeme]

Understand about procedural issues but word was that Yanina and Xavier was only going to get a warning before Andre came out with his news. Once received, the Belgian people handed down the year punishment.

Was it "word" from a trusted source or was it just ...speculation? And even if it is true....blame needs to go to the Belgian organization that let themselves be influenced rather than Andre.