Tennis legend Serena Williams has voiced frustration with the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) anti-doping regulations, describing them as "grueling" and "unreasonable" ahead of her return to Wimbledon. Williams, 44, is set to play her first singles match in nearly four years after receiving a wildcard for the prestigious tournament.
"It's unprofessional. I hate it," Williams stated regarding the "whereabouts" rule, which requires players to provide their daily location for unannounced testing. "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."
Williams, a mother of two and a seven-time Wimbledon champion, explained that the rules have made her comeback challenging. "That was a big reason why I didn't want to come back either, because it's just so hard. I mean, my life is busy, I run a company, I run a VC company, I travel the world. I have children. It's like I could be in so many different cities so many different times."
Under ITIA protocols, athletes can be penalized for three "whereabouts failures" within a 12-month period, which can result in a suspension even without a positive drug test. Jenson Brooksby received an 18-month ban in 2023 after missing three drug tests within a year.
In response to Williams' comments, the ITIA clarified that the rules have been consistent for several years. "If a tester is unable to reach a player during their allocated hour, then it may well be a 'strike,' and three failures could lead to a charge. If a tester is unable to reach a player outside of their allocated hour, it is not considered a strike," an ITIA spokesperson told The Associated Press. The agency emphasized that the system is designed to protect athletes and encouraged players with questions to engage directly.
Williams' first match at Wimbledon since 2022 is scheduled for Tuesday against Maya Joint. She recently began her competitive comeback at the Queen's Club's HSBC Championships, where she played in the doubles draw with her sister, Venus Williams, and also competed in singles before an injury to her partner.
The controversy surrounding anti-doping rules gained attention last week when Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, received a four-year suspension for refusing an anti-doping test.