Multiple doping cases have hit tennis in recent years. It has now joined other sports where it has become a menace to the game. Over the past 12 months, Simona Halep has been in the news for testing positive for roxadustat in the 2022 US Open. She is currently serving a four-year ban and is appealing her case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Halep hopes to return to court as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the latest player to have been hit by doping is Jenson Brooksby, who is currently banned from the sport. Brooksby had missed three drug tests in 12 months. He will now be serving an 18-month ban and will return to sport in 2025. The American will miss the whole of next season as it will impact his career and reputation.
Former World No. 33 Jenson Brooksby has been suspended for 18 months after the ITIA found he had committed 3 whereabouts failures in a 12-month period.
Sanction will be backdated to July 5, 2023 and end on January 4, 2025. pic.twitter.com/j8VOdfJO3Z
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 24, 2023
The sport needs to probe the rise in doping cases. Two athletes serving bans give out a stern reminder. The anti-doping program is lacking in effectively conveying the situation to players. Consequently, young athletes like Jenson Brooksby find themselves in a difficult situation as they lose out on their prime.
Jenson Brooksby intends to appeal the ban on missing drug tests
Brooksby had only played seven matches this year and did not compete after the Australian Open. The 22-year-old underwent two wrist surgeries this year and was preparing for his return to the sport. He had informed his fans that he wished to appeal the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, just like Halep. Brooksby shared a post on Instagram where he described how he missed the drug tests.
The former world No.33 maintains that he had missed two drug tests and the third could have been avoided. Brooksby said, “I accepted that two of my missed tests were my fault, but I continue to maintain that my June 4, 2022 missed test should be set aside.” He mentioned that a doping officer had come to the hotel where he was staying, but the staff had informed him that Brooksby had not come yet.
Jenson Brooksby suspended for 18 months. Very similar case and suspension to the Mikael Ymer’s.
Should miss the entire 2024 season… pic.twitter.com/v8apLFcWnI
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 24, 2023
The young player received a call from the doping officer but could not pick up since it was on silent. Brooksby could not understand why the officer did not call into his hotel room as he could have been tested then. Meanwhile, these incidents have caused him to step out of the tour for a year and a half. Brooksby will hope that his ban will at least get reduced when he appeals the case at CAS.