Miami:
Roger Federer believes tennis does not face a major doping problem but voiced concern here that drug testing protocols are not being taken seriously enough in certain parts of the world.
The record 17-time Grand Slam singles champion spoke out at the ATP and WTA Miami Open, where he ends an eight-week knee injury layoff today.
Third-ranked Federer believes there should be more consistency in the hunt for dope cheats, saying he gets tested more in his homeland than anywhere else.
“I’ve been in Dubai for 10 years now and been tested once. That’s not OK for me,” the 34-year-old Swiss said yesterday.
“I get tested more in Switzerland because the guy from Switzerland lives in my village. He comes to see me the day after my surgery. In certain countries, maybe the testing is not as serious as in Switzerland. I would like to see that across the board to be the same way and fair. But, I think, tennis is doing more and more. I really don’t think there is a major problem.”
“Tennis is doing a lot better than it has in the past. We’re getting more professional. The program is getting bigger and stronger,” he added.
Stunned about Sharapova Federer said, he was shocked to learn that Russian star Maria Sharapova, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, tested positive at the Australian Open for meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) ban list on January 1.
“It was very disappointing news to say the least,” Federer said.
“Clearly, I was very surprised. I thought she was going to announce retirement or something. But, it also shows that famous players can get caught in the system that seems to be working.”
Sharapova said, she did not check updated lists to see what changes were made to the banned list for 2016.
“I know what I take,” Federer said. “You have got to be sure. That’s why I quadruple check what I take. I don’t want to take any chances whatsoever.”
Federer said, he tends to give fellow players the benefit of doubt, but is skeptical when those who test positive plead ignorance or accident.
“I’m naive maybe in the fact that I believe athletes,” Federer said. “Clearly, when they get caught, you turn. You are like, ‘I can’t believe they tried to do that, forgot about it,’ whatever.”
