Doping Control: WADA Lab Findings For Tennis

Time for a short break from previous Australian Open doping controls.

Also, if you haven't already noticed, I've added a "First Time Reader" page. The tab is near the top of the page.

In the past, I've looked at the ITF's anti-doping reports to the WADA (which date back to 2008). I decided to a take a broader look at doping controls in tennis by reviewing the results reported by WADA Accredited Laboratories (which go back to 2003). These statistics include all analyses conducted by the WADA accredited laboratories for in- and out-of-competition tennis player testing conducted on the behalf of the ITF, but also tests conducted by National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADO), like the USADA, UKAD, and ASADA. It also means the this testing captures not just ITF players (i.e., professionals), but amateur athletes (e.g., college/university athletes).

Also, starting in 2008, the lab findings report on "atypical" findings, which would include, for example, elevated ratios of testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E). However, the ITF's WADA filings do not include "atypical" findings. One can safely assume that a portion (if not most) of the atypical findings in the WADA lab reports are from ITF or NADO tests of professional tennis players.

Here are the numbers:

Keeping in mind that these numbers will include some non-ITF players: What was going on from 2003-2007 that caused so many adverse tests? Alternatively, what happened in 2008-onwards that resulted in a decrease in adverse test results? And what was behind the large number of atypical findings in 2009? Further, given the volume of atypical findings, why have we seen no violations for synthetic testosterone use?

Data Sources:

WADA Testing Statistics