Noha, Blake and now Rochus… there are some players that are raising some concerns about doping in tennis and there are some other that deny it (and we really hope they are right!).
From Rochus
Rochus, former Belgium player, had quite a harsh statement at a recent interview with LaLibre to say
“Of course it is a reality. I was already said that more than ten years ago. It is a sport that has become more and more physical, so there are inevitably more temptations to take performance enhancing drugs. Now, with the Armstrong issue, we have to admit that just because someone has never tested positive, it doesn’t mean that person has never doped. When one can afford good doctors to do personal research, it is possible to take undetectable drugs. So in my opinion, anti-doping controls are useless and they really don’t prove anything. Regarding Nadal, those rumors are rumors even if everyone has the same question: How can you be so strong in Roland Garros and one month later, you are apparently unable to play ? That’s why it looks so suspicious, but we have no proof. Maybe he really is injured.”
From Murray
Andy was upset by these comments to say “Anyone can see that the amount of hours of training and practice that go into what we do and there are other sports that are — endurance-wise — far more challenging than tennis.”
Talking about Rochus’s allegations that “The guys can’t play five or six hours and then come back the next day and run around like a rabbit.”, Murray replied
“When guys play five or six hours in the Slams, like we often do, we have a day’s rest.
“After our match last year here, I was told that Novak on the day off didn’t practise, didn’t hit a ball, didn’t get out of bed until three o’clock.
“Providing you put the work in, it doesn’t mean it hurts any less when you have to play a couple of days later after a five-hour match but I would not say it is impossible.The game has changed for sure physically, it is much more demanding and I have adapted my preparation and training.
“Reducing the amount of tournaments I play and spending more time getting myself ready for events is the best way to prepare.
“Still not everybody does that but I believe that’s the best way to go about it — spend more time in the gym in the off-season preparing and you see better results”
This is a very tricky and controversial issue. On one side we understand the concern raised after Armstrong’s mess… but on the other we understand the frustration of some tennis players that train so hard to be fit to then being accused of cheating… not nice.
