Pro bono legal aid for players facing doping allegation

As part of a new initiative spearheaded by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), tennis players who are accused of doping or corruption will be able to receive free legal assistance.

Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil and the PTPA, which were founded in 2020 to increase player power, announced that it would provide access to “world-class legal expertise regardless of a player’s financial standing and personal resources.”

Iga Swiatek, a five-time women’s Grand Slam champion, and men’s world number one Jannik Sinner both failed doping tests last year.

Some players criticized the way that tennis authorities handled those cases, which the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has vigorously refuted.

After the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) appealed, Sinner, 23, was not given a ban for failing two tests in March, but that case will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April.

Former world number one Swiatek served a one-month suspension, which ended in December, and missed three tournaments after the ITIA found the 23-year-old’s positive test was caused by contamination.

However, former British doubles player Tara Moore served a two-year absence because of a doping ban, which was later overturned, and told Reuters she spent £200, 000 in legal fees.

Moore, who co-founded the PTPA’s pro bono Athlete Counsel &amp, Equity (ACE) Program, returned to tennis in April 2024 after her ban was lifted. The ITIA is contesting that choice.

According to Moore, “It was my responsibility to fight for my innocence, leaving me with a ton of money in debt and a lot of emotional distress.

I’m hoping that no player will have to deal with these difficulties alone, especially in cases involving integrity issues, thanks to the PTPA ACE Program and these incredible legal teams.