Another of the disappointing instances of steroids in sports of tennis was, Argentina’s Mariano Puerta, who was suspended for nine months by the ATP for testing positive last year for Clenbuterol, just two days before the news of Rusedski’s positive test.
Nandrolone is one of the most controversial steroids in sports in the recent years. In the majority of cases, athletes said they took the banned substance unknowingly in nutritional supplements. Clenbuterol, the drug that works like anabolic steroids in promoting muscle growth, also does belong to the category of the debatable drugs in sports.
Petr Korda, the 1998 Australian Open champion, tested positive for nandrolone at Wimbledon later that season and was banned for one year.
However, Rusedski said, “I know I’m innocent — I’m not going to hide; other players were exonerated after their positive samples showed a similar “fingerprint,”
He said, “I’m not the only person in this situation. The facts speak for themselves,”
Rusedski told that his was one of 47 cases where traces of nandrolone might be attributed to supplements provided by ATP trainers.
These revelations also did bring out opinions and comments from many former tennis stars.
Bohdan Ulihrach, who was one of seven players to initially test positive for nandrolone, but later cleared after the possibility was raised that ATP trainers might have unwittingly handed out contaminated supplements, came forward in support of Greg Rusedski.
Ulihrach told Britain’s The Guardian newspaper, “I believe Greg 100 percent, I’m sure it’s some mistake.”
McEnroe, the 7-time Grand Slam singles champion, said, “he was given a strong — but at the time legal — steroid for six years without knowing it, and he suspected players were taking drugs when he was playing.”
However, the fifth-seeded woman tennis player, Davenport reckoned that steroids in sports of tennis have limited benefits.
Davenport said, “I’m sure some players unfortunately do go down that path, but ultimately, tennis is still a game of skill, so I think although it probably would help in some aspect, ultimately, it comes down to how well you can make contact with the tennis ball, and no drug is going to help you get better at that.”
Drug testing in tennis started in the late 1980s by the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council, initially for recreational drugs. Other substances that were considered performance enhancing have been added to the banned list. The ATP is part of the tennis anti-doping program along with the International Tennis Federation and the WTA. Yet, the presence of steroids in sports can’t be denied.
