Serena: 'Grueling' Doping Rules
Serena Williams Criticizes Anti-Doping Rules Ahead of Wimbledon Return, Citing Motherhood Challenges
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Key Points
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Serena Williams said missing a test outside the designated one-hour window could prevent her from picking up her kids, illustrating a clash between anti-doping rules and parenting responsibilities.
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She disclosed that she has two children and runs a company and a venture capital (VC) firm, highlighting how a global, busy life complicates consistent whereabouts reporting.
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Williams re-entered the ITIA anti-doping testing pool in October ahead of her comeback and has faced random checks at her home and daily whereabouts notices since August.
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She has been active on court ahead of Wimbledon, including playing doubles at Queen's Club and Berlin, before deciding to return to Grand Slam action at Wimbledon, where she is set to face Maya Joint on Centre Court.
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ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse emphasized that unpredictable testing is essential to protect clean sport and reminded that players can be tested at any time and in any place, with refusals carrying significant consequences.
Serena Williams says anti-doping rules nearly stopped her from coming back to tennis. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, now 44, called the sport's whereabouts testing system "grueling," "unprofessional," and "unreasonable" at her pre-tournament press conference on Saturday, according to BBC Sport. She is set to play her first Wimbledon singles match in four years on Tuesday, facing 20-year-old Maya Joint on Centre Court.
Williams re-entered the ITIA's testing pool in October 2025 and has faced random checks at her home and daily whereabouts notices ever since. She said the burden of the system — which requires athletes to report their location every day — clashes directly with her life as a mother of two and head of a venture capital firm.
What the Whereabouts Rules Actually Require
Under the system run by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), every elite player must designate one hour each day — between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. — when they are available at a fixed location for no-notice drug testing. Three missed tests or filing errors in any 12-month period triggers a ban. Testers can also show up outside that window, at any time and any place, according to Yahoo Sports.
Williams said a recent rule change made things worse. Now, if a tester shows up outside her one-hour window and she is not there, it can still count as a strike against her. "I guess I can't go pick up my kids," she said, per BBC Sport. She stressed the tests are necessary, but argued the current approach is too rigid for athletes with complex lives.
Vondroušová's Four-Year Ban Fuels the Debate
Williams' complaints landed just days after a landmark ruling. On June 22, an independent tribunal handed 2023 Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová a four-year ban. Vondroušová refused a test at her home at 8:15 p.m. on December 3, 2025 — outside her one-hour window but within legal testing hours. The ITIA classified it as a refusal, not a missed test, which carries the same punishment as a positive doping result, according to Yahoo Sports.
Williams pointed to Vondroušová's case as proof the system is too punishing. ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe called the four-year ban "ridiculous" and "way too harsh." The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) added: "A four-year ban for a player who has never tested positive... should give this sport pause," per BBC Sport.
ITIA Stands Firm: Testing Must Stay Unpredictable
ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse pushed back firmly. She said "unpredictable testing is an essential tool to protect clean sport" and warned that refusing a test carries "significant risk" for any player. The agency argues that an "anytime, anywhere" approach is the only reliable way to catch sophisticated dopers who use micro-dosing between scheduled tests, according to Yahoo Sports.
ITIA senior director Nicole Sapstead was equally blunt about the Vondroušová case. "It was very clear that the player did not wish to engage with the process," she said. The agency's position is that softening refusal rules would create a loophole for any athlete who knows they may test positive to simply close the door, per BBC Sport.
Williams Pushes for Reform While Eyeing Wimbledon Glory
Williams is not calling to scrap the testing system — she is calling for smarter rules. She argues athletes should be able to move freely outside their designated hour without risking a violation. The PTPA is expected to use her high-profile platform to lobby for more flexible reporting for parents and veteran players, according to Yahoo Sports.
Off the court, Williams' comeback is already a commercial and cultural event. She played doubles at Queen's Club and in Berlin before committing to Wimbledon singles. She is 44, faces a 20-year-old opponent ranked 87th, and carries a reported $350 million net worth and a VC portfolio with 14 unicorn companies, per BBC Sport. Whatever happens on Centre Court Tuesday, her comments on doping rules may have a longer shelf life than any match result.
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