Johanna Konta blasts anti-doping procedures after missing test earlier this year
The British tennis star agreed that they need to have integrity in this sport, but felt there was definitely room for improvement in the way athletes are sometimes treated.
JO KONTA has hit out at “violating” anti-doping procedures after missing a test earlier this year.
Konta said she felt “hard done by” over what happened in March, when she was not at home when a tester game to her London house.
The British No 1 said: “It was basically a mix-up of time zones more than anything.
“My whereabouts was for 6 a.m. on the Monday morning in London, but I flew on Sunday to Indian Wells.
“I arrived on Sunday at Indian Wells. When I got to the hotel, it was a little after 10pm, so I changed my whereabouts for the Monday morning.
“The testing officer came out on the Monday morning, which it was already Monday morning in London.
“It was a bit of a tough one for me to swallow because it was a little bit out of my control.
“But since then, I've just been trying to be extra vigilant on changing it even more in advance to try and avoid those sorts of mistakes.
“Unfortunately it's one of the things that comes along with being a professional athlete.
“It's important to have integrity in this sport, but I do feel there's definitely room for improvement in the way athletes are sometimes treated.
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“It's quite a violating process. People come to your home. You're in your pajamas. You get woken out of bed, pulled out of bed, told to take down your pants, give your arm, pee in a cup.
“It's an invasive process.
“I do the best that I can. I'm a clean athlete. I basically just try to trust in the fact that I follow the rules.”
Serena Williams will have sympathy with Konta.
Williams has hit out at anti-doping chiefs for targeting her this year – she has given five out-ot-competition samples, more than the top five American male players put together.
The story broke only because WTA chief Steve Simon was overheard making calls about the situation when Williams complained.
The seven-time champion cancelled her press conference at the last minute yesterday afternoon but is set to be asked about the issue for the first time today.
