Serena Williams Says Frequency Of Her Drug Tests Is ‘Discrimination’
Serena Williams believes she is being discriminated against with the frequency she has to go through drug testing. Williams took to Twitter on Tuesday saying she was again selected for an anti-doping test.
“And it’s that time of the day to get ‘randomly’ drug tested and only test Serena. Out of all the players it’s been proven I’m the one getting tested the most. Discrimination? I think so. At least I’ll be keeping the sport clean," Williams tweeted.
“But I’m ready to do whatever it takes to have a clean sport so bring it on. I’m excited," she added.
Williams, 36, also complained about drug testing before Wimbledon, imploring tennis officials to test everyone equally. The comments come just weeks after Deadspin reported that Williams was the most-tested tennis player. According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency's public athlete testing history database (last updated on July 20th), Williams has been tested five times in 2018. She was tested three times in 2017 and six times in 2016.
"I'm totally OK with testing and I encourage it," Williams said. "It's just about being equal and not centering one person out."
Williams, a 23–time Grand Slam champion, lost the Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber, 10 months after she gave birth to her daughter.
She is set to play in the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose next week and the Rogers Cup in Montreal, which starts on Aug. 3.