ITF to unify anti-doping programme

Tennis is stepping up its fight against drug cheats by unifying the sport's anti-doping programme.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF), which organises grand slam tournaments and the Davis Cup, is to manage and enforce the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme at men's ATP events from next year.

The ITF currently oversees doping at grand slams, Davis Cup and Fed Cup events, the ATP runs doping at men's tournaments and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) performs the same function at their events.

The move announced yesterday is a major step towards unifying drug-testing in the sport and the ITF also hopes to bring the WTA into the fold.

"We believe that a unified programme under one management is in the best interests of tennis," ITF president Francesco Ricci-Bitti said.

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) code, meaning a mandatory two-year ban for first-time offenders and a life ban for repeat offenders. Ricci-Bitti is on the WADA board.

The agreement between the ITF and the Association of Tennis Professionals extends to 2010 and will include at least 600 tests a year at ATP events in addition to the 500 tests on male players at tournaments under ITF jurisdiction.

The ITF already tests women players at grand slams and the Fed Cup.

The move will slash administrative costs and remove much duplication of roles. Routine drug testing in tennis at present costs between $1 million and $2 million every year, Ricci-Bitti said.

Yesterday's announcement came just days after France's L'Equipe said that at least one of the 152 samples tested during this year's French Open had been positive. The ITF, however, remained tight-lipped about the report.

If the report proved to be accurate it is unlikely the player's identity would be revealed before the end of the year.

¤ Justine Henin-Hardenne will not play in next year's Fed Cup for Belgium. The French Open champion, who has been dogged by fitness problems over the past two years, told Belgian newspaper La Libre that her priority was to win back her number one ranking. Her decision, while not unexpected, is a blow to Belgium who could face Fed Cup holders Russia in April also without Kim Clijsters.