Maria Sharapova receives 2 year ban from International Tennis Federation

Maria Sharapova was suspended two years by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday for doping, a ban she called “unfairly harsh” and which she plans to appeal.

The 28-year-old Sharapova announced in March she tested positive for meldonium, which she said she has been taking for 10 years to treat numerous health issues. Meldonium became a banned substance this year under the WADA code, and Sharapova claims she didn’t notice its addition to the banned list.

Sharapova immediately went on the offensive Wednesday, releasing a statement on Facebook that questioned the validity of the ITF’s suspension. She says the ITF wanted to ban her for four years, but it was reduced to two years by a three-person Tennis Anti-Doping Program tribunal because the ITF had not found evidence that Sharapova’s doping was intentional.

“While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension,” Sharapova said. “The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

However, the tribunal’s report said various elements of Sharapova’s case “inevitably lead to the conclusion” that she took the substance “for the purpose of enhancing her performance,” and revealed that her meldonium usage was concealed from everyone in her entourage except her father and agent. The tribunal called Sharapova “the sole author of her own misfortune.”

Sharapova has been blasted by numerous tour pros for giving the sport a black eye, while others have used the opportunity to call her out as one of the coldest players on the WTA Tour.


“I have missed playing tennis and I have missed my amazing fans, who are the best and most loyal fans in the world. I have read your letters,” wrote Sharapova, who ended the letter: “Love, Maria.”

If her suspension withstands an appeal and runs through Jan. 25, 2018, the 29-year-old Russian will wind up missing this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics and a total of eight Grand Slam tournaments during what might have been prime competitive years. It certainly throws into doubt the on-court future of the former world No. 1.

“I have read your social media posts and your love and support has gotten me through these tough days,” Sharapova wrote. “I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that’s why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible.”

Sharapova said she tested positive at the Australian Open, where she lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals on Jan. 26.

nypost.com

She received the same sentence as Martina Hingis (albeit for a completely different reason). 

And I hate to say it but I agree with ITF it was her own fault. 

She could have avoided this if she had just paid attention and not tried to hide it. 

2 years is a long time, and if she's not successful in reducing the sentence it'll be interesting to see if she can come back. 

If anyone can after something like this it would be Sharapova. Whether it's actually a successful comeback will be the biggest question.

It could have been worse she could have received 4 years given it is a performance enhancing drug. 

Unlike Martina Hingis who I still think was targeted (thus the cocaine accusation).

Marin Cilic suspended for doping

LONDON -- Former top-10 player Marin Cilic has been suspended nine months for a doping violation.

The ban was back-dated to May 1, so Cilic can return to competition Jan. 31, the International Tennis Federation said Monday.

Cilic tested positive for nikethamide, a stimulant, at a tournament in Munich last spring. The ITF said it accepted the player's contention that he ingested the substance inadvertently in glucose tablets and was not trying to cheat.

As a result, the ITF gave him a reduced penalty rather than a ban of up to two years.

Cilic plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He said in a statement that he purchased the tablets at a pharmacy in France.

"I wish to emphasize that I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any banned substances in my life and that I am opposed to any use of performance-enhancing substances in sport," Cilic said.

The 24-year-old from Croatia has not played since withdrawing from his second-round match at Wimbledon in June, citing a knee injury. Cilic will be ineligible for the Australian Open in January.

He has been ranked as high as No. 9 in the world in early 2010 after reaching the semifinals at that year's Australian Open. Cilic is currently 24th.

Cilic will lose all his results, ranking points and prize money since the Munich tournament. His best result in that span was a runner-up finish at the Queen's Club grass-court tournament, where he lost to Andy Murray.

huffingtonpost.com

First Richard Gasquet & now Marin Cilic.

It's amazing how they both received reduced sentences and Martina Hingis got the full 2 year suspension.

Either she had a really crappy lawyer, or someone really wanted her out of the competition I'm still sticking with the latter.  Seems to me like discrimination and sexism at it's best.

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

Kim Clijsters slams 'harsh' bans for fellow Belgians

BRUSSELS — Belgian star Kim Clijsters on Saturday slammed the "extremely harsh" sanctions imposed on compatriots Xavier Malisse and Yanina Wickmayer for missing drug tests.

US Open semi-finalist Wickmayer and Malisse were on Thursday handed one-year bans by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) for falling foul of doping regulations.

Wickmayer, the world number 18, was suspended for failing to fulfill the controversial "whereabouts rule" while Malisse was also punished for missing a drug test.

"To receive a one-year ban because of this seems extremely harsh and is potentially career-ending for both of them," US Open champion Clijsters said on her Twitter message system.

"While they may not have followed correct administration, they did not register a positive doping offence either.

"I feel I have to write about this. Its very, very unfortunate what's happened to Yanina and Xavier this week."

"I hope the authorities and athletes can work together on finding better solutions to keep our sports clean."

Both players can appeal against their suspensions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Wickmayer was accused of failing on three occasions to fulfill the ADAMS (Anti-Doping Administration and Management System), under which athletes are obliged to tell national anti-doping authorities where they will be at a chosen hour each day for a three-month period.

Malisse was punished for missing a dope test and for twice failing to fulfill the ADAMS.

The sanctions came as a surprise as only last month it was expected that the two players would escape with just a reprimand.

The suspensions on Malisse and Wickmayer run until November 4, 2010.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Saturday that it backed the decision taken by the Belgian authorities.

"The ITF recognises and respects the decision of VDT, and shall take all steps necessary to enforce and give effect to it," said a statement.

Source: AFP

I'm with Kim on this one there's gotta be a better way for the players and ITF to work together on the drug issue.

The year long punishments are getting ridiculous (especially for something like missing the drug tests, I've never been a fan of the "whereabouts rule" ). Not to mention career killing.

Look at what happened to Martina Hingis, she would have played for at least a few more years had it not been for the ban.

I'm all for keeping the sport clean, but there's gotta be a better method.

Hingis talks more on ITF drug ban as it comes to an end

Wednesday marks Martina Hingis' 29th birthday. It also marks the final day of her two-year drug suspension from the International Tennis Federation.

While we've been conditioned to raise a skeptical eye when athletes profess innocence and ignorance after a positive drug test result, the ITF stance was troubling from the onset.

To review: The ITF claims that 42 nanograms per milliliter of a cocaine metabolite was found in Hingis' system, as per a drug test administered after her third-round defeat at Wimbledon in 2007. This is an amount so trace that it would not trigger a positive result had the test been administered by the U.S. military. In the wake of the positive result, Hingis voluntarily took a hair-follicle test -- which, unlike a lie-detector test, is cited by drug experts as meaningful and reliable. It indicated no traces of cocaine in her system in the 90 days following Wimbledon.

The amount was so trace that, in marked contrast to Richard Gasquet -- who was cleared to return after completing a 2½-month ban in July when an anti-doping panel ruled that he accidentally ingested cocaine by kissing a woman at a nightclub -- Hingis was at a loss even to fashion a plausible theory about how she could have tested positive. (In the past few months the British media have reported about trace levels of cocaine turning up everywhere from the Thames River to restroom sinks.) Though circumstantial evidence is just that -- circumstantial -- it defies logic that a veteran player who had passed upwards of 100 tests, some of them unannounced and out of competition, would dabble with cocaine in conjunction with a Grand Slam, knowing with virtual certainty that she would be tested.

Under the "strict-liability standard" -- which means the athlete is responsible regardless of culpability or circumstance -- Hingis was stuck, guilty until proven innocent. As a first-time offender, she faced a mandatory two-year suspension.

Though never directly attributed to the peculiarities of her case, curiously, in the months after her hearing, rules were altered and administrators were given latitude to dispense suspensions of any length from zero to two years.

With Hingis back from her foray into reality television, we caught up with her by phone at her stable in Switzerland.

SI.com: From an emotional standpoint, how do feel you've handled the past two years?

Martina Hingis: OK. There were hard times and it was frustrating knowing I did nothing wrong but couldn't really fight this. It was my reputation and I knew the truth. But the process didn't really let me fight.

SI.com: Given your outspoken personality, I think it surprised a lot of people that maybe you weren't as forceful, deciding, for instance, not to appeal. Do you regret that?

Hingis: Like you say, I always spoke [honestly] even if I wasn't always politically correct. I spoke the truth even when the truth may have hurt me. But the system was set up in such a way that there was nothing I could do.

SI.com: Bottom line: have you ever ...

Hingis: No. Taken cocaine? Never. No [recreational] drugs. I don't know even the effects. I've maybe been in a position where I could have. But never, no. If I had ever taken cocaine, I would have said so.

SI.com: Before this happened, did you ever worry about a situation like this?

Hingis: No, because I probably had between 80-100 tests and no problems. The only thing I would ever take was aspirin and I was very particular about these things. Even if I had a flu I'd call my doctor and say, "What can I take?" I was always very cautious. I never took anything that was not approved first.

SI.com: Were any players notably supportive?

Hingis: Billie Jean King wrote a letter on my behalf. But, you know, I wasn't allowed at the Grand Slams, even to enter the stadium during tournaments. So I had little contact with the other players.

SI.com: Richard Gasquet?

Hingis: No.

SI.com: Lots of comebacks going on. You're 10 years younger than Kimiko Date ...

Hingis: I'll leave it Justine [Henin]! It's not so easy. You need to commit. You can't just do it when you want to. I know the women's game isn't at the highest point it's ever been. OK, look at Kim [Clijsters]. But she has the family support, the husband, she's physically strong. She played three tournaments and she's right back and I don't think anyone can hurt her on the court.

SI.com: What is your relationship with tennis?

Hingis: I love tennis, still a big part of my life. I didn't play much in the beginning of the suspension, but then I played more. Now when I play, a lot of the time it's with juniors. I've been able to [distinguish] between the sport and the administrators

Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com

It's really sad that she didn't get more peer support during this whole ordeal, I'm surprised she didn't get any from Kim.

I'm not surprised about Gasquet however, that guy is a real jerk.

British press none too kind to Martina Hingis

DISGRACED former Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis – who is currently banned from tennis for using cocaine – will compete in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, despite her past.

The 29-year-old joins sports stars including former jockey Richard Dunwoody, 45, boxer Joe Calzaghe, 37, long jumper Jade Johnson, 29, and former cricketer Phil Tufnell, 43.

Hingis, thought to be pocketing £50,000 for the show, claims she is “100 per cent innocent”, but the International Tennis Federation ruled against her and ordered her to repay almost £80,000 in prize money.

Hingis, 28, was banned for two years after testing positive in Wimbledon 2007. John Beyer, of campaign group Mediawatch-UK, last night accused the BBC of sending out the wrong signals in a family show. “They could have chosen someone without that record,” he said.

But the Swiss star, to be partnered by dancer Matthew Cutler, said: “I want to put everything behind me now. This is a a new start. I hope to win.”

Source: Express.co.uk

Over the past few days I have seen a handful of negative press like the one above in regards to Martina participating in Strictly Come Dancing.

All of them with the same opinion, that a banned or disgraced as they put it former tennis champion should not be allowed to partake in these kinds of competitions.

To which I say, why the hell not?!.

Tennis has nothing to do with dancing, or vice versa for one. And two it's a freakin' reality show for cripes sake!. Not the Olympics.

And like I'm really gonna believe the rest of the participating contestants are all perfect upstanding citizens. Please.

Not that I believe one bit that Martina took anything in the first place. I always have and always will maintain that she is in fact innocent, and that someone set her up.

Seeing all this negativity in regards to Hingis has really made me dislike the British press (and I've always been a big fan).

I guess that's another reason to like America/North America in general they're more inclined to give people second chances whereas the British hang you out to dry.

I applaud Hingis for putting herself out there. I hope she does in fact win the whole thing, and proves them all wrong!.

Martina Hingis speaks candidly on life and WTA ban

As I mentioned a few days ago Martina has been doing a lot of interviews recently.

I have to admit I'm a bit curious as to why. Could it be that now that her ban is close to being over, she feels more free to speak?.

Whatever the reason I'm glad she's finally opening up more on the (ban) issue, and what her life has been like for the last year and a half.

Martina Hingis, on November 1, 2007 you were informed that you tested positive for cocaine, but you stated that you are innocent. Since then you retreated more or less away from the public. . Why this interview now?

I had difficulties accepting it all, I had doubts about justice and I wanted to distance myself. In the meantime 1 ½ years have passed and the ban will last only four months, then a new chapter will start in my life.

On the 1st of October your ban will end. What does this date mean for you?

I will celebrate my 29th birthday on September 30 a bit more intense then usual, I will drink one or two glass more. Then I will be a free person. I can go to riding-or to tennis tournaments, I can go to Roland Garros or Wimbledon. Then my dignity will be restored.

Q: Have you kept in contact with friends from the tour?

A: If you are not allowed to go to tournaments you just lose the contacts. The others do not travel to Switzerland. In the USA I rung up Monica (Seles), but she was not there. I've had several contacts with Anna (Kournikova). Once I met Justine in Belgium.

Q: People said, that the worst part about the suspension has been the fact that you could not participate at riding events. Was it really so?

A: No. The worst was, that e.g. I could not got to Wimbledon or the US Open, where I was invited like all other former Champions. ITF said, that I was not allowed to enter the stadium during the tournament. There are always people who come up to me and say: super career. And now all that shouldn't be an issue. Am I no longer a former champion? I was cut to the quick. To overcome this, was not so easy.

Q: Did you feel as if you were rejected?

A: Many of my relations with sponsors etc. were taken away. I've always had very good relations: I was with Yonex for 15 years. I cannot comment (I'm assuming we're talking about match commentating here), cannot coach, I have more or less an employment ban.

Q:You were also the object of mockery and evil caricatures. Did it hurt you?

A: I have seen some things and I laughed. You cannot always cry when you are reading the newspapers. Of course there were some silly sayings, but they didn’t bother me.

Q: How did the people react?

A: When I spoke with people, the issue came up all the time. The majority who followed my career have a good impression of me. Particulary in the USA, where I spent a lot time,- above all in Saddlebrook. There my achievements are in the foreground. The good thing there is: Once you're at the top, you mostly remain a legend. On the streets people often asked me: Why aren't you playing anymore?

Q: Did people point a finger at you?

A: I retreated to avoid that. I lived my life, with my horses, with my family and friends. Or I was abroad. This exclusion was not easy to bear. Also not for my mother and Mario(Widmer). If somebody looks at me, as if I were a drug addict…. the word 'cocaine' didn’t belong in my vocabulary.

Q: How were your protests of innocence accepted?

A: I know, that many thought that I just tried it. But in such a case I would not have done it at Wimbledon!. To do such thing you must be really stupid. In a first round, when I nearly lost, against a player named Cavaday!. For many it was simply a doping case. Without taking into consideration how small the substance was and that outside the tournaments cocaine is allowed. You can find traces of cocaine everywhere. I made the hair test because I didn’t want to be characterized as a drug addict. My tennis was not based on such things…. I have never been afraid to be on the court. I don't even know the effect of cocaine.
.
Q: You wrote an annotation in the protocol of the doping test.
A: “All is ok”. In my life I've had 80 to 100 doping tests and I've never had a problem. I would not jeopoardise my career, only to play once more at Wimbledon. As if I am in need of that. I would never have a problem admitting: I have taken cocaine, I wanted to know how it is. But then I wouldn’t do it at Wimbledon.

Q: Have you ever regretted having accepted the verdict without recourse?

A: We discussed it very extensively. But I did not want to go from court to court. The example of Marion Jones shows that you even can get bankrupt. And in her case it took five years until all was finished. That was nothing for me.

Q Were you surprised by the severity of the sentence?

A: I never thought that the suspension would be for two years. I thought 3 months. Prior to and after my case, there was never a suspension of two years for cocaine.

Q. How do you explain this severity?
A: This is the Hingis-bonus, which is negative. How long was the suspense for Novacek and Wilander? 3 monts. And why was it different in my case.

Q Perhaps they wanted to make an example with you to show that they take ruthless action against doping, also against big players.

A: Perhaps they needed somebody for this and I was the victim.

Q: Do you sometimes think: If I had known how my come back ends, I would have renounced to it, so my name in the tennis history would be better?

A: This would depend how all will develop from October. The only reproach I have is the fact that I started in Wimbledon not 100% prepared. I just wanted to play by all means. I was injured, I had played only for 2 weeks. I should have dropped it.

Q: You never appeared completely content during your come-back. How do you look back now to that time?

A: Until Tokyo(February 2007) everything worked super, afterwards not so great. At Tokyo I played very well, in the final I beat Ivanocic. This was a highlight. At that moment I thought all will continue this way. Furthermore I had a relationship, for which I made compormises. I decided to help him as he was injured and I thrived.

Q: Are you glad, that you tried it once more?

A: I had to take courage. But I wanted to experience all these things, the gala diners, the photo shoots, the tournaments, and to be on the top. And I did, I won three tournaments. I just enjoyed it, it was like a bonus. Most people didn’t believe that I would advance so high up the ranking with my height and my power. My come-back was not bad. I can be proud about it.

Q: Would you have played any longer without the doping case?

A: I think less. I would have surely taken a time-out. At that time I did not know how our relationship would develop. If it doesn’t work out, you think more about retreating. And I lost several times in the first or second round. You have to ask yourself: Is it worth it? But I kept it up for almost two years. And they were 2 very nice years.

Q There are rumors about a new come-back. Is there truth to them?

A: Many people ask me when I will start playing again. But the effort is too great for me in order to go up to the top. I don’t believe that I have the will and the energy to deliver such performance. Week after week, as before. On good days I play okay, on bad days I think: Oh my god… I have a good life here, I have a house, a friend, my horses. And when the weather is good, it is really wonderful. I don’t have in mind to go from tournament to tournament. But to play some exhibitions, that would interest me.

Q: You still take part in the doping test program of Swiss Olympics. Why?

A: I decided to stay in the system, in case I wanted to come back. Also because of the exhibitions. They could have made tests the whole 2 years, but they didn’t do it. But I have to inform them where I am. Sometimes I feel like a criminal.

Q: During the ban you competed at exhibitions in Liverpool, Boston, California, Germany. Were there no problems?

A: I had a lot more offers, but I didn’t want to provoke anybody. Most of the exhibitions were for some charitable purposes.

Q: How intensely do you play tennis nowadays?

A: In the first half year I didn’t play much, now a bit more. I still enjoy it. Recently I invited a 15-year old German girl, Daria Gajos. So we could train for a few days. I met her in Berlin in January, when she won the Berlin-Brandenburg Championships. I would like to do that more often.

Q: Did you train once again with Patty, who lives near your home?

A:No, she hasn’t asked me and I do not want to call her and say: I am here and I am ready… I benefit from my mother as she trains good juniors, like Belinda(Bencic) and Talissa(Kucera). So I have good sparring partners.

Q: Were you never bored? Or did you discover new things?

A: I'm taking driving lessons for my motor-boat, so that I can finally drive with my boat. Sometimes I had to really search for something to do. For a while I rode 5, 6 horses in a day, so I was engaged.

Q: How are your riding ambitions? Will you ride at sporting events?

A: Perhaps. I have to look at how it works. At the moment I have two horses in Rueschlikon and two in Basel. But If you want to ride internationally, it gets expensive. And for this you need competence.

Q: You say, that you are happy with your private life. Do you have specific plans: marriage, children?

A: My private life is stable, I have a good friend, I am content. But it's too early to make big plans.

Q: How do you imagine your future?

A: I take it as it comes and see what happens. I always get inquiries regarding coachiing or playing.

Q: Coach Martina Hingis?

A: No, rather…. (considers) consultant.

Q: You do not want to travel to tournaments as a coach like your mother?

A: No, in such case I would prefer to play for myself. Sometimes I think the best would be to start a family and to undertake something with your own child. So you have the best control.

Q: Do you see your mother often?

A: Once a week we try to ride together. She also has a horse. We meet each other on the tennis court.

Q: Your life would be an ideal model for a book. Are there any plans?

A: I often think sometimes I will write a book with Mario. But now it is too early and also too complicated. But whenever I have outbursts of temper, I write it down, so that I don’t forget it.

I feel the need to point out something there are a lot of "friend" references in the interview.

I think it's safe to assume she's actually talking about her boyfriend but it comes out different when translated from German *lol*.

Also I've never been a big fan of ITF (International Tennis Federation) especially not after Hingis's ban, but I think they hit a new low by not allowing her to enter the Tennis stadiums at grand slam matches as a former champion. So not cool!.

I actually can't wait until her ban ends and we can at least get a glimpse of her on t.v. sitting in the stands :).

Source/Translation: hingis.org

Edited by me

Martina Hingis gets more support for wrongful ban

Michael Phelps gets a three-month ban while Martina Hingis gets two years. Am I missing something?
-- Aaron R., Bloomington

• It's not a perfect comparison. Different drugs, different circumstances, different sports. Hingis "failed" -- if you want to call it that -- a doping test administered in competition. There was no analytical evidence implicating Phelps; just a "damning" photo.

But your larger point is well-taken. To use a highly technical term, Hingis' test result stinks -- I wish she'd hired me as her lawyer. The timing makes no sense, as she knew the test was coming. The drug in question is generally not considered performance-enhancing. It was a first offense. In what would seem to be a tacit admission of wrongdoing, in the wake of the Hingis decision administrators now have more discretion to reduce punishment when there are extenuating circumstances ...yet she was handed what amounted to a lifetime ban. Unless, of course, she wanted to commit hundreds of thousands of dollars to an appeal. Athletes in other sports would barely get their knuckles rapped for an equivalent offense.

A few of you asked whether I thought Hingis, given her unfortunate exit from tennis, was still a lock for the Hall of Fame. I can speak only for myself but I would vote for her tomorrow without qualification. Five Grand Slams, a long stretch at No. 1, success in doubles. Never mind that it would be hypocritical to deny her, given that various other players enshrined in Newport, in addition to the past three U.S. presidents, have admitted to illicit drug use. I feel -- and you may have gotten this vibe by now -- that Hingis was really railroaded.

Source: sportsillustrated

I really hope Martina is reading some of these, because the WTA needs her more then ever these days.

I also agree on the Hall of Fame induction. She absolutely earned it, and there should be no reason for the tennis officials to even think twice about denying her that right.

Martina Hingis found guilty receives 2-year ban

Well, I was hoping to start the year with something positive, especially since it's my first post.

But, as I'm sure many of you are aware in life things don't always work out the way you expect. Such is the case for tennis star Martina Hingis.

Who received some bad news regarding her drug accusations from last year.

It was announced today that she has been found guilty by an independent Anti-Doping Tribunal and as a result has received a 2-year ban from the sport by the International Tennis Federation.

Which really makes no difference seeing as she retired at the end of last year. She's also being asked to return all the prize money earned at Wimbledon.

To make matters worse the tribunal rejected both of Hingis's pleas in regards to the drug sample.

I don't know much about court proceeding when it comes to sports but I find the independent Anti-Doping Tribunal a little weird. I'm inclined to think they're not as independent as they claim.

And I don't know about the rest of you but the conspiracy theorist in me refuses to believe that drug sample was hers. I still think there was some sort of set up going on to ruin her reputation and her unblemished record, so to speak which is exactly what this whole fiasco achieved.

Despite all this to me she will always be one of the greatest players of the sport, someone who's irreplaceable and always worthy of my respect.

Article Source

Billie Jean King stands by Hingis

With all the negative press around Hingis these days, it's good to see there are still some sports professionals who believe and support her. Last week it was Roger Federer and this week it's the legendary Billie Jean King.

"It just doesn't make sense... it's just not her,"
"She was going to retire anyway. I do believe Martina Hingis. If she says she hasn't taken it, I believe it".

Thank you! that is exactly what I have been saying since this whole drug thing got started. And I'm sticking with it.

"Maybe she went out to a party... and others had dope around and leave it on tables and if you get it on your hands and maybe you ingest it and you don't even know. There are so many possibilities now. It's just not in Hingis's character".

Again I completely agree, it's something that is so logical and yet no one has pointed this out. Instead they continue to focus on the negative and already labeling Hingis as guilty.

"Characters are revealing and I think it's great she came out first and took it head on. That's a pretty good sign too as a lot of players always wait (for an official announcement) and she thought to heck with it. That was smart."

Yes and I give her complete props for that but sadly many saw that as suspicious, I'm still not sure why. I saw that as Hingis being true to character as Billie points out.

Anyway, good to see some positive comments once again (especially from someone of such high sports stature), and I'm sure Hingis will certainly appreciate them.

Federer defends Hingis

Swiss country man Roger Federer is finally stepping up and defending his idol Martina Hingis against the drug accusations.

I've been waiting for him to do that, he's been refusing to comment up to this point, glad he finally changed his mind. Especially since these two are good friends.

Plus having someone like Roger defend you can only work in her favor, so good going Mr. Federer I knew there was a reason I liked you as well:).

Now if only the WTA would join in that would help Hingis out tremendesly, so here's hoping they get their butts in gear soon.

A refreshing perspective on Hingis

I have seen a lot of negative press in regards to Martina Hingis over the past week, so it was a pleasant surprise when I actually found an article that was mostly positive and complementary.

Gotta say it's a nice change of pace, good to see a piece that not only highlights her accomplishments and abilities as a player, but also shows respect to the person.

Not that that's surprising especially when it comes to the Australian Open, a tournament at which Hingis has many records and many fans as the article illustrates.

She will undoubtedly be very sorely missed at next years tournament. I hope the rest of the grand slams display the same kind of respect towards her next year because she certainly deserves it.