The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced a new trial program designed to provide comprehensive support for tennis players facing investigations related to doping or match-fixing. This initiative offers access to free legal assistance, confidential psychological counseling, and financial aid to test products suspected of causing positive drug tests.
Kicking off immediately, this pilot initiative is slated for review at the conclusion of next year.
Under the program, players can claim up to $5,000 to cover the costs of having a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory analyze medicines or supplements for contamination. The same financial support is available for investigations into potential sources of contaminated meat, which is a common defense cited in doping cases.
Sport Resolutions, an impartial dispute resolution body overseeing anti-doping tribunals in tennis, is expanding its complimentary legal aid. Previously offered only after formal charges were laid, this service will now be accessible from the moment a player receives an initial positive test result for a prohibited substance.
Additionally, Sporting Chance, an organization dedicated to athletes` mental well-being, will offer up to six sessions of psychological support to individuals under investigation for anti-corruption or anti-doping infractions.
She further stated, “No child starts playing tennis with any motive other than a love for the game. Players often find themselves in these complex situations for various reasons, and regardless of the circumstances or the outcome of their case, they deserve access to support and someone to confide in.”
The ITIA recently handled two prominent doping cases last year involving former world No. 1 players and multiple Grand Slam champions, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, both of whom received abbreviated bans.
Jannik Sinner agreed to a three-month suspension, which concluded in April, following an appeal by WADA against his initial exoneration by the ITIA. WADA contended that Sinner`s positive test was due to accidental contamination by an anabolic steroid.
Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month ban, partially served during the previous offseason, after testing positive due to what she claimed was a contaminated over-the-counter medication.
The handling of such cases has drawn criticism from some tennis players, including 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, who suggested a perceived bias favoring the sport`s top-ranked athletes.
