Five times that doping scandals rocked the world of tennis
As with any professional sport, tennis has had its fair share of doping scandals.
Here we look at five of the most shocking scandals related to doping in the sport of tennis.
Maria Sharapova
In the most memorable of the recent doping scandals, superstar Maria Sharapova failed a drug test in 2016.
The offending substance was a medication called meldonium, which improves blood circulation by transferring fatty acids into the body and is used to treat heart problems.
Sharapova admitted taking the drug for over ten years, claiming that it helped her ward off a susceptibility to influenza and also treat symptoms of diabetes and magnesium deficiency.
Sharapova may not have been intentionally taking the chemical to boost performance, but it is the player and team’s obligation to be aware of new substances that have been added to the list of prohibited substances, according to a review of the case released by the International Tennis Federation and World Anti-Doping Agency.
The Russian was thus given a two-year suspension by the ITF, which banned her from participating in any professional WTA Tour competitions until 25 January 2018.
On appeal, Sharapova’s ban was reduced from two years to 15 months, and she returned to tennis in April 2017.
Simona Halep
The Simona Halep case has caused upheaval in tennis, with high-profile figures supporting the former World No 1 in her quest to clear her name.
She was informed in October 2022 that she tested positive for Roxadustat, an anti-anaemia medication that promotes the formation of red blood cells, during the US Open in September.
In May 2023 she was charged with a second doping offence by the ITIA over “irregularities” in her so-called biological passport.
Halep has lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decision to ban her for four years. She admits that her career will be over if the ban remains in place.
Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi dragged tennis into street drug scandal when he tested positive for methamphetamine in 1997.
He was handed a three-month ban for the transgression but after claiming a drink being spiked was the reason for the positive test.
Agassi later revealed in his biography that he lied about how he consumed the drug.
Years later he would open up about his battles with addiction and depression.
Richard Gasquet
Richard Gasquet came out with an even more outlandish excuse for testing positive for a recreational drug.
He would become embroiled in a scandal that centred around an alleged ‘cocaine kiss’ which he says he received from an unidentified woman at a party in Miami.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the World Anti-Doping Agency initially sought a two-year penalty due to the drug used in the incident.
However, Gasquet received a one-year suspension at first because of his denial and the minor amount of cocaine discovered. This decision was reversed when an independent assessment determined that the incident was inadvertent. The ITF and WADA both appealed the verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but were unsuccessful.
As a result, Gasquet was given a formal six-week ban from May to July 2009, preventing him from playing in the French Open or Wimbledon.
Martina Hingis
In 2007 former world No 1 Martina Hingis had her career ended by a positive doping test.
Hingis tested positive for the drug Benzoylecgonine and soon after announced her retirement.
While she would challenge the ruling her attempts were rebuffed as she had already quit the sport.
Hingis maintains her innocence, claiming she had never taken cocaine, and later took a private drug test, which came out negative.
