Williams Slams Tennis Anti-Doping System as
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- Serena Williams, 44, called tennis' anti-doping system "unprofessional" and "unreasonable," saying it was "a big reason why I didn't want to come back" given her life running a company, a VC firm, and raising two children.
- Williams said new rules count a missed test outside the allotted window as a strike: "I guess I can't go pick up my kids," adding she was forced to re-enter the testing pool before announcing her comeback.
- The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) pushed back, telling the AP the rules haven't changed in years and that a missed test outside a player's allocated hour does NOT count as a strike — directly contradicting Williams' account.
- Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, was suspended for four years last week for refusing a test, the latest high-profile sanction under the whereabouts system.
- Under anti-doping rules, three "whereabouts failures" within 12 months can trigger penalties without a positive test — Jenson Brooksby received an 18-month suspension in 2023 on that basis.
- Williams faces Maya Joint on Tuesday in her first Wimbledon singles match since 2022, having returned to competition earlier this month in doubles at Queen's Club.
Why it matters: Williams' public criticism lands days after 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova drew a four-year ban for refusing a test, putting the ITIA on the defensive during the sport's marquee tournament. With three whereabouts failures in 12 months triggering suspensions without a positive test, the burden of compliance is now a career-level risk that one of tennis' biggest names is openly contesting.
