Andy Murray calls for more drug testing in tennis

Andy Murray thinks the drugs scandal that has enveloped Russia this week is a widespread problem and “out of control”. On the eve of the ATP World Tour Finals in London, the world No2 spoke out in the strongest terms about the urgency of tackling a blight he says stretches beyond athletics and, possibly, even into his own sport.

He has even suggested players give up some of their prize money to help fund more and tougher testing, although there was mixed support among his peers Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for going that far.

“Every week something is coming out, and it’s not just people failing tests,” Murray said. “Look at the stuff that’s happening in Russia now. And I don’t think it’s just a Russian problem. It’s getting out of control and the governing bodies need to do something to stop it, because it’s been a bad few years.”

There has been locker-room discussion about the problem, now and in the past, although Murray says it is difficult to say if any suspicions about fellow players are well-founded.

“I haven’t spoken to all of the players to find out if that’s the case. I just do think that we could do more to make sure that the anti-doping process is better, is better funded, there’s more testing.”

But was he confident, over the course of a long career, that every player across the net from him was clean?

“You can’t say with 100% certainty. I don’t think that anyone in any sport can currently say that that’s been the case. You hope and you want that to be the case but I really don’t think that anyone can say with 100% certainty that that’s the case, after everything that’s gone on.”

Murray plays David Ferrer, whom he beat handily in the Paris Masters this month, in his opening round-robin match at the O2 Arena in Greenwich on Monday afternoon. Djokovic, the clear favourite to win his third title in a row, plays Kei Nishikori on Sunday afternoon, and the perennial tournament drawcard and six-time winner Federer starts against Tomas Berdych on Sunday night. Nadal’s first match is against the French Open champion Stan Wawrinka on Monday night.
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Tournament organisers on Saturday warned spectators at the sellout event – a quarter of a million people are expected through the turnstiles in twice-daily sessions over the week – to leave extra time for security checks in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday night.

A statement read: “Our deepest condolences are with all those affected by the tragic events in Paris. Following the events, we have reviewed security operations in place around this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The O2 already has enhanced security in place, and tournament preparations are continuing as normal. Venue security is monitored at all times to ensure the safety of all our visitors.

“No food or drink will be allowed into the arena itself and all bags will be searched. No bags larger than a small laptop bag or handbag will be permitted in the O2 during the tournament and visitors are urged to travel light, as there is no storage on site.

Please allow extra time for security checks.”



Andy Murray calls for more drug testing in tennis | Sport | The Guardian

They need drug testing in all sports, performance-enhancing drugs have long been used in sports.

They need drug testing in all sports, performance-enhancing drugs have long been used in sports.