Drug testing for tennis

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 33

Drug testing for tennis

NZPA-Reuter | ■ ! Key Biscayne The Men’s International Professional Tennis Council has expanded its tournament drug testing, but insists at the same time there | is no drug problem! on the professional tennis circuit. | > The chairman of the council, Mr! .Marshall Happer, unveiled! plans on Sunday to expand : testing, ! previously conducted only at the four Grand Slam tournaments — Wimbledon and the French, United States and Australian Opens — and at the International! Players' Champion-

ships here. ; ■ . Two of the five events were selected each year as drug! testing sites. ”V(e can now test at any tournament and for an unlimited amount of times,” Mr Happer said! He insisted, however, the expanded programme was strictly a! preventative measure. ! "We are certain there is no drug problem in tennis,” Mr Happer said! The tests, conducted in strict confidence, are for cocaine, heroin and amphetamines only, I

; I! "We know of no drug! that is performance enhancing in tennis. That is why fwef test for illegal street drugs rather than steroids," Mr, (Happer said. I I I . !‘ I Players who test i positive are given the opportunity to enter rehabilitation | rather than face suspension from the game. Mr Happer said the I council felt that if players know|testing could take place at any of 80 tournaments during! the year, the possibility bf drug use would decrease. [ j