Belgian players Xavier Malisse and Yanina Wickmayer were each handed with a one year suspension from professional tennis by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after both players failed to report their whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times this season.
A Belgian tribunal determined that both players violated the Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.4 of the 2009 WADA Code (violation of Athlete Availability for Out-of-Competition Testing). The ITF officials agreed with the decision.
Wickmayer, who had a breakthrough season highlighted with a semifinal finish at the US Open, will reportedly appeal the ban. She pulled out of the year-end Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions after this development was announced. She was replaced by Kimiko Date-Krumm in the semifinal round.
Read the entire ITF’s press release here:
On Yanina Wickmayer
On Xavier Malisse
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