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The recent doping scandals involving top -ranked tennis proses Jannik Sinner And Iga Swatek has drawn the attention of both fans and officials, prompting one of the sport’s government organizations to issue athletes a reminder of its shower policy.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency Politics that encourage players to shower “in a clear view of the chaperon, who observed them at all times”, made its rounds on social media and received harsh criticism from fans online.
Jannik Sinner from Italy in action during his match against Marcos Giron in the United States of America in the third round of the men’s singles of 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne Park on January 18, 2025. (Mike Frey-Preferred Pictures)
Sports Illustrated Senior Author Jon Wertheim first shared the political reminder on his social media on April 18. He shared a screenshot of the policy on X with a caption that read: “This is … extraordinary.”
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“ITI and ITF have worked tirelessly to ensure that showers after battle can constitute a permissible delay for doping controls, especially when the absence of a shower can have a detrimental effect on a player’s health and well -being,” the statement reads.
“Taking a shower, however, is not a right. For this reason, ITIA kindly requests players to shower while remaining in a clear view of the chaperon that observes them at any time. If a player feels uncomfortable with being monitored during their shower, we suggest to consider whether it is necessary to shower before we deliver doping control test.”
In response to the post, fans criticized the policy. A person wrote in response, “wtf ??? This sport is crazy. This is just out of creepy.”
“This is unacceptable,” another added.
Iga Swatek appeals to the President’s judge during her semi -final match against Mirra Andreeva at the GDP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, Friday, March 14, 2025. (IMagn)
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For others, however, the policy was nothing new.
The former Australian Tennis Pro Rennae Stubbs said in response that the policy was always to shower “with the door open.”
“The drug testers were with us every minute from the moment we walked off the track, including seeing us shower. I don’t know what they’re putting this out now,” she added.
American Tennis Pro and six-time Grand Slam double winner Rayev Ram added: “Has this not always been the case?”
Wertheim shared a response from ITIA the following day that addressed the controversy to the admitted “unpleasant” policy.
“We recognize that parts of the anti -doping testing process are unpleasant, but as with all WADA -compatible sports -not just tennis -are players notified of a test after a match observed at all times of an anti -doping chaperone until the test is completed,” the statement reads.
“This is a requirement in the world’s anti-doping code. After a match, we understand that it can take some time for a player to produce a test, and therefore there are permitted delays for reporting to the doping control station, including cooling and showering. The player’s welfare is a priority and we will continue to advocate for their right to do this, but it is important that any activity does not affect the integrity of the test.”
Jannik Sinner from Italy in action during his match against Ben Shelton from the United States of America in the semi -finals of the men’s singles of 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne Park on January 24, 2025. (Mike Frey-Preferred Pictures)
SINNER SHOULD COME BACK NEXT MONTH AFTER HE WAS issued a three-month suspension For testing positive for a prohibited anabolic steroid on two separate occasions a year ago. Swateek returned from a one-month suspension in December after she tested positively for trimetazidine.
