With the doping cases of Marin Cilic and Viktor Troicki a major topic in tennis, three players at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. comment on the effectiveness of the sport’s anti-doping procedures. Troicki has already been suspending for failing to take a blood test (he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport), while Cilic allegedly tested positive at a tournament in April and is currently sitting out.
“As far as talk in the locker room, there hasn’t been any at all,” John Isner told reporters. “These situations are unfortunate. I don’t know what to think of it. I will side on their [the players’] side. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Isner says he thinks the authorities are doing a good job of making sure that players are aware of what they can and cannot ingest.
“To hear the ATP or WADA doesn’t educate enough, I don’t think that’s the case,” Isner said. “I think the ATP does a good job informing us what we can and can’t take.”
Mardy Fish added that the doping system is extremely detailed. “We do get updates,” he said. “We get a lot of information. There are things constantly coming through e-mails about player regulations, regulated substances…There are a lot of things that we can’t take that we don’t understand but might mask something. My trainer and I take it very seriously. I ask him about everything that goes in.”
Bernard Tomic seemed to be confused as to what went on.
“It’s very strange how it can happen,” Tomic said. “As a player myself, it’s very weird and strange to see these things happen. It’s strange, but it’s their issue.”