Roger Federer wants biological passports as anti-doping method

Roger Federer believes biological passports should be the norm on the ATP—a notion that makes plenty of sense in this day and age where cheating in pro sports is prevalent. 

Federer stated the following, according to the Guardian's Kevin Mitchell:

"A blood passport will be necessary [...] as some substances can't be discovered right now but might in the future, and that risk of discovery can chase cheaters away. But there also should be more blood tests and out-of-competition controls in tennis. I didn't get tested on blood after the Australian Open and I told the responsible people over there that it was a big surprise for me."

The 2012 Summer Olympics was the first summer games to utilize this comprehensive anti-doping measure, which is a "long term history of an athlete's physiology based on key markers in the blood," (h/t BBC's Matt McGrath).

World Anti-Doping Agency president John Fahey talked about the process and what it is supposed to do before the London Games, according to Sports Network, via the Los Angeles Times:

If someone thinks they're home free in 15 days time from some form of cheating here in London, they should hold their breath for at least eight years because the odds are they can be picked up at a later point in time.

While doping may not seem prevalent in the world of professional tennis, the suspicion is certainly there. Just this year, on Feb. 14, Czech tennis player Barbora Zahlavova Strycova was suspended for six months after she tested positive for sibutramine, a stimulant (h/t Bloomberg's Christopher Elser).

Pro athletes are under a tremendous amount of stress to win, and many of them will go to extreme lengths to get a leg up on their competition. 

According to Mitchell's report in the Guardian, the current system in place on the ATP is nothing more than "window dressing," and the minimal amount of players getting busted over the course of the past 27 years bears this out as a true statement.

American James Blake came out in the summer of 2012 in an interview with USA Today's Douglas Robson, saying:

"In tennis I'm sure there are guys who are doing it, getting away with it, and getting ahead of the testers." Blake says he wants to believe it's a level playing field, "but I also am realistic with this much money involved, $1.9 million for the winner of the U.S. Open, people will try to find a way to get ahead."

Athletes in today's world have access to cutting-edge treatments—both legal and illegal. We've seen Lance Armstrong get exposed after exhaustive and expensive investigations have uncovered the truth of his wrongdoing.

According to Mitchell's report, the ATP only spends $1.3 million per year in drug testing—a paltry amount of money, considering the wealth the sport generates.

Utilizing biological passports would certainly deter athletes from doping, but more importantly, it would be a way of leveling the playing field and assuring fans that the players are clean. 

If every athlete were under the same scrutiny, being tested in exactly the same way, the sport would certainly benefit.

It's time for tennis to catch up to the times. It's time for the sport to utilize the best technology available to clamp down on those athletes who are cheating. 

Roger Federer isn't the first man to raise concerns about this subject. Andy Murray has been calling for changes since last year. 

Perhaps now that Federer has championed the cause, those with the authority to make a positive change will move to fix an ailing system.

There isn't a good excuse not to make the best efforts possible to put an end to doping in tennis, and there isn't a better time to make the change than right now. 

 bleacherreport.com

More on Hingis drug drama

Found a great article that shines a little more light on the Hingis doping allegations. It's important to note that she does in fact plan to fight this. So to all those thinking otherwise you were wrong :P.

Actually I'm confused on why even the press seemed to think Hingis's statement meant she was not going to fight these allegations, certainly seemed like the exact opposite to me. I took it as her saying she would not fight and play tennis at the same time hence the retirement.

And I was obviously right:). Plus, hiring a lawyer? kind of a tip off if you ask me. I don't think anyone hires a lawyer unless they plan to take legal action.

I'm going to point out some key things in this article that I thought really hit the nail on the head.

"You can argue cocaine is a performance-enhancing drug only in theory, given that
it's essentially a social drug, most often accompanying a late night of
partying. If anything, it would hurt Hingis, not help her".

Thank yoiu! that is exactly what I have been saying ever since hearing about the news, another reason why I just do not believe she's in any way guilty.

"If you were wondering why Hingis came forward before any official announcement,
former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport had the answer last week: it's the kind of
blockbuster news that almost always gets leaked, especially with someone so
high-profile".

I knew there was a reason I liked this player:).

"Perhaps Hingis remembers two years ago, when news that popular Russian
player Svetlana Kuznetsova had tested positive for ephedrine was unfairly leaked
by Belgium's sports minister. Never mind that it was during the offseason, at an
exhibition (why were they testing there, anyway?) and that she was perfectly
within the rules to take the cold medicine that led to the positive test".

There you go, these guys will find any excuse to destroy a player's reputation, never mind if it's for the right reasons. I said it before and I'll say it again there's definitely something fishy going on and I hope Hingis's lawyer gets to the bottom of it.

Hingis begs dope testers not to disrupt her day

August 01, 2006 Edition 3

San Diego, California - It's not the knock on the door that worries Martina Hingis - it's the timing.

The Swiss former world number one, making her WTA summer hardcourt start here this week, complained that a Sunday drug test during a pre-tournament training day threw off her carefully prepared routine for no good reason.

Hingis, who returned in January after a long break from the sport, said drug testers need to have some consideration. "They should look at a player's schedule. They just come in and screw up your whole day," the five-time Grand Slam winner said yesterday.
"They could come at the end of the day or in the morning, but not in the middle of the day when you have training.

"It's not a big difference if it's in the morning, the night or the next day. It's not like anything's going to go away."

Hingis said she is all for random drug testing - "the rules should be respected," she declared - but that testers could do with some consideration.
Hingis said she will never forget a 6 am test performed in Switzerland in 1996.
"I'm not running away, but I want my two hours of sleep. It's OK to test me. But don't show up at 6," Hingis lamented. - Sapa-AFP

Source:http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3370127

I sort of have mixed feelings about this article. On the one hand I agree that it's a little unfair to mess up a players schedule but on the other, they wouldn't be called "random" drug tests if you knew ahead of time.

I really wish all these darn athletes would stop cheating with drugs. This way honest players like Martina wouldn't have to suffer the consequences of their actions. Anyway that's my small rant for the day lol.

I know it's been a little slow in the Tennis news lately but hopefully things will pick up once I'm able to see some of the Acura Classic matches and of course Rogers Cup on August 12.