Benneteau finds serious problem in Swiatek and Sinner's doping matters
Yesterday at 02:57 AM
Billie Jean King Cup France captain Julien Benneteau shared his take on the two controversial doping matters involving Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, trying to pinpoint the source of the problem. Benneteau said that more clarity is needed to avoid tarnishing the image of tennis.
In the latest episode of Les Grandes Gueules du Sport on RMC in, the former French tennis player said tennis does not have a doping problem but the problem is communication and the difference in treatment around the cases.
"I don't think tennis has a doping problem. I think the problem is the ITIA, the communication and the difference in treatment in these cases. Does that leave room for doubt? Of course. It's poorly managed. And it raises questions. When we ask ourselves: tennis has a doping problem, can we say that some of the top 100 players in the world are doping? That the ATP and WTA cover all positive players? That there is a real organized system? That's impossible!
We are monitored continuously. A player who plays in a tournament is checked. There are 15 to 20 checks per year. For an itinerant individual sport, that's quite significant. There is no organized doping. But the ITIA must establish harmonization in terms of communication and sanctions. What is suspensive or not? There we have the impression that it depends on the player's ranking," explained the Frenchman.
Iga Swiatek© YouTube screenshotSinner is under fire for testing positive for Clostebol, for which WADA is asking for a disqualification for negligence and for which the Court of Arbitration for Sport is awaiting its opinion. Iga Swiatek has already been suspended for a month.
In the meantime, from 19 to 22 December the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi will be the stage for the new edition of the World Tennis League, the event promoted during the break from the regular season that pits 16 male and female tennis players from the circuit divided into four teams. This year, however, the competition opened with some off-court issues, which in a certain sense forced the organizers to intervene to avoid any type of discussion or controversy during the event.
As mentioned, Swiatek, one of the protagonists, tested positive for trimetazidine and the issue was revealed publicly only recently. There has been no shortage of harsh attacks against the Polish player, and among these is the Australian Nick Kyrgios. As chance would have it, the two were included in the same team for the Yas Island event: in recent days the WTL has chosen to change the composition of the teams already formed as a precaution.
The four teams have now become these:
Team Eagles: Iga Swiatek, Hubert Hurkacz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa Team Falcons: Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Elena Rybakina and Caroline Garcia Team Hawks: Aryna Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz, Mirra Andreeva and Sumit Nagal Team Kites: Jasmine Paolini, Casper Ruud, Nick Kyrgios and Barbora Krejcikova
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