Tennis icon Serena Williams has voiced strong criticism of the anti-doping system, particularly the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) whereabouts rules, describing them as "unprofessional" and "unreasonable" ahead of her return to Wimbledon. Williams, who recently rejoined the sport after a four-year absence, stated that the current regulations make it difficult to manage her demanding lifestyle as a mother and businesswoman.
"I guess I can’t go pick up my kids," Williams said, referring to the rules that require players to provide their location for no-notice testing. "It’s unprofessional. I hate it. I think it’s necessary, but I think a lot of the stuff, if I want to go places outside of my window, I should be able to go without having it count as a missed test."
Under ITIA rules, three "whereabouts failures" within a 12-month period can lead to a penalty, even without a positive test. Williams, 44, indicated that these rules were a significant factor in her hesitation to return to professional tennis. She noted the complexity of her schedule, which includes running a venture capital firm, traveling globally, and raising her two daughters, Olympia and Adira.
In response to Williams' comments, the ITIA clarified that the whereabouts rules have not changed recently. The agency stated that a missed test occurs only if a tester is unable to reach a player during their designated hour. Testing outside of this allocated time does not count as a strike. The ITIA emphasized that the system is designed to protect players and encouraged any athletes with questions or concerns to communicate directly with the agency or their representatives.
Williams returned to the testing pool in February and announced her comeback earlier this month. Her return to Wimbledon will see her face 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint in singles, and she will also compete in doubles with her sister, Venus. This comes after Markéta Vondroušová, a former Wimbledon champion, was suspended for four years for refusing an anti-doping test in December 2025, as announced by the ITIA last week.
Williams also recently became a paid spokesperson for the company Ro, revealing she used GLP-1 medication to manage her weight following the births of her daughters.