Daniil Medvedev is a Russian professional tennis player. He is ranked 3 by the ATP in the world at the moment. The Russian has one grand slam credited to his name. He defeated Novak Djokovic in an epic match at the US Open in 2021 to win his first singles title in a grand slam.
In the anti-doping test conducted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, the players are supposed to give their details every day. The players are required to give their location for an hour every day, this is known as the “whereabouts system.” The agency conducts random surprise tests on any day.
A player is penalized if they fail to let the agency know about their “whereabouts” three consecutive times in a 12-months time period whether they present a positive result or not.
In a recent interview, Daniil Medvedev discussed his own experience with the system. He disclosed that he had been on two strikes for a considerable amount of time. This put him in danger of being suspended like Brooksby if he fails a third drug test during that time.
Daniil Medvedev on anti-doping tests:
“I had 1 or 2 missed tests. It’s not easy. Imagine you’re not married & you decide to stay at your girlfriend’s house 1 hour away & you forgot to change the time slot. 1 missed test. 3 can come pretty fast. I think some cases are bad luck” pic.twitter.com/Sk4rqfu2Fm
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 7, 2023
The 27-year-old continued “Tough to answer. I think anti-doping generally in sports is a good thing. We need it because never know who cheats, who doesn’t,” he added,
“I myself had one time two missed tests. It was the first year I was on the ADAMS system. It’s not easy. I don’t know. Imagine you’re not married and you decide to sleep at your girlfriend who’s one hour away from your home, and you decide last moment. You forget to change the time slot. One missed test. Three can get pretty fast.”
The Anti-Doping Administration and Management System or ADAMS is the World Anti-Doping Agency platform that athletes use to track their movements. It has been associated with the problems of Daniil Medvedev as it was not easy to cop with initially.
Jenson Brooksby’s anti-doping case
The International Tennis Integrity Agency accused American tennis player Jenson Brooksby. He has allegedly skipped three drug tests in a 12-month span. Brooksby accepted a provisional suspension on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
Brooksby however through a telephone interview cleared the air by confirming he has never failed a test. He said, “I’ve never failed a drug test. I’ve never taken any bad substances.” (via Fox News).
He went through two operations. For dislocated wrist tendons on his left arm in March and his right arm in May. Brooksby, who has been rated as high as No. 33, is now at No. 101 after missing over six months of competition. Brooksby has not competed since January when he defeated three-time Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud in the second round of the Australian Open. The American eventually lost to the semifinalist Tommy Paul in the third round.
Brooksby stated, ” I was at the official tournament hotel where I said I would be, in my hotel room, and the time that I had said I would be there” when “one of the alleged missed tests” allegedly occurred in June 2022, two days before the start of an ATP tournament in the Netherlands.
In the interview with the AP, Brooksby remarked, “It’s irritating. I’m eager to present them with all the available proof.” The 22-year-old also recognized how a system is important to conduct these tests, and “accepted” the consequences, that is provisional suspension. He added how he supports and respects the protocols as they are in place to protect the sport.