Tennis world rails against ‘creepy' new shower rule: ‘This is unacceptable'
The tennis world is up in arms after a new 'creepy' shower rule was revealed in a bid to further help catch those using performance-enhancing drugs.
The International Tennis Integrity Unit (ITIA) informed players of the new rule on Friday, which will see drug tests conducted immediately after matches.
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'The ITIA and ITF have been working tirelessly to ensure that post-match showers can constitute an allowable delay for doping controls, especially when the absence of a shower can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of a player,' the ITIA statement read.
The International Tennis Integrity Unit (ITIA) informed players of the new rule on Friday, which will see drug tests conducted immediately after matches.
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'However, taking a shower is not a right. For this reason, the ITIA kindly requests players to shower while remaining in clear view of the chaperone observing them at all times.
'If a player feels uncomfortable being watched during their shower, we suggest considering whether it is necessary to shower before providing the doping control sample.'
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Sharing the new rule on X, American sports journalist Jon Wertheim wrote: 'This is … extraordinary.'
And other tennis fans were even more shocked, calling out the 'creepy' new rule.
Rennae Stubbs said the statement was just poorly worded and a drug testing officer is always present from the time players leave the court through to giving a sample.
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'Chaperone in full view while the players are showering??? This is creepy, given how some players, males and females, are in their teens. Ew,' one fan wrote in response to the announcement on X.
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'This is unacceptable,' another added.
While a third wrote: 'I cannot believe what I just read.'
However, four-time Australian Olympian Rennae Stubbs said the statement was just poorly worded and a drug testing officer is always present from the time players leave the court through to giving a sample.
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'We always have had to shower with the door open,' Stubbs wrote on X.
'The drug testing people were with us every minute from the moment we walked off the court including watching us shower. I don't know why they're putting this out now.'
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