Men’s doubles world number one Robert Farah has tested positive for a banned substance.  He had pulled out of the Australian Open earlier citing “personal reasons”.

Farah said, “A few hours ago the ITF informed me of the presence of Boldenona in a test that I did on Oct. 17, 2019 in Cali. Two weeks before the test mentioned, I did an anti-doping test in Shanghai which had a negative result. And I was also tested at least 15 other times randomly in the international circuit throughout the year with the same negative result. As stated by the Colombian Olympic Committee in 2018, this substance is found frequently in Colombian meat and may affect athletes’ test results.”

Prior to September 2016, players provisionally suspended by ITF anti-doping could choose to announce it  or not . If a player got off with time served, no one would ever know that they got suspended for failing a drug test.

There is no way to spin this.  This is a dark moment for the sport.  The numbre 1 doubles player failing a doping test is a stain on the sport.  But at least the ITF is transparent, and has publicly announced the results of the test.

2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova is ready to return  to tennis after a 6 month break due to surgery. Her last match of the 2019 season was at Wimbledon where she lost in the first round. Vondrousova will start her season at the Adelaide International this week, where she is the No.8 seed.

“It’s been very tough, but I’m all healthy now, so it’s good. I’m pain-free,” Vondrousova told adelaideinternational.com.au. 

Vondrousova said she has been practicing since November and is looking forward to getting back to competition.