"LONDON (AP)—Bulgarian tennis player Dimitar Kutrovsky has been banned for two years after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
The International Tennis Federations says the 24-year-old Kutrovsky tested positive for methylhexaneamine in February at the SAP Open in San Jose, Calif.
The ITF says ``Mr. Kutrovsky asserted that the methylhexaneamine, for which he did not hold a valid therapeutic use exemption, had got into his system through his ingestion of the supplement Jack3d. He denied any intent to enhance his performance as a result of taking the Jack3d.''
The ban dates back to Feb. 14 and he must forfeit any prizes and points won at tournaments."
Is this just the beginning of more to come, or finding a conveniently low ranked anonymous player as a scapegoat?
2 Year Ban For a Doping Tennis Player
posted on 16/5/12
Tennis really never needed it.
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With the slowing conditions it has become a real advantage.
posted on 16/5/12
But not in the 20s and 30s
posted on 16/5/12
I think Borg would have benefitted considerably of fitness drug and many other before him. However we have no clue about who took some and who did not. We really start to hear about drugs in tennis (at least that I am aware of) from McEnroe's time though I heard about Borg's /Connors (70s) time too but in a vaguer way.
However, I would say till the 90s a talented player coudl overcome a doper outside clay. With the arrival of players like Hewitt and luxilion strings (those type of strings are the main reason why doping can really work in tennis), physical tennis certainly dominated talented players.
Federer's talent being successful is the exception in that last 12 years. And this is why I think in years to come people will look at him with even more respect than now.
posted on 16/5/12
How long would you give a completely clean player to last in a 5 setter match these days?
posted on 16/5/12
How long would you give a completely clean player to last in a 5 setter match these days?
Depends on his style but they simply coudl not play a single set the way they do. They can't run 30-50m races one after the other at the pace they do and hitting the ball as hard.
Watch at a Borg v Lendl match and you will see 2 great athletes already coming close to human limits.
Ljubicic, Federer play pretty close to that physical level. They make up thanks to amazing shot ability.
It's very simple in tennis. Anyone can hit winners from all corners. Only a few can do it consistantly enough not to have to struggle it out.
posted on 16/5/12
"They can't run 30-50m races one after the other at the pace they do and hitting the ball as hard."
yes, longer rallies.
Still, they are all young men and fitness freaks obviously.
I can't really comment from their perspective as I've only played sports as an amateur.
posted on 16/5/12
Still, they are all young men and fitness freaks obviously.
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But they have the same physiology as any other human being. They haven't got whales lungs nor monkeys muscles.
Borg and Lendl were also young and extremely fit but they looked much more human.
Look at Federer hitting the wall in those 5 sets he has lost versus the top guys. Like he had nothing left in the tank.
Excpet twice versus Nadal. But that's easy to understand. Cause as soon as Nadal gets tired, he becomes very easy meat for Federer. Nadal's shots land shorter, spinn less and Federer can then dictate and finish him off physically, like in Miami or Wimby 2007.
posted on 16/5/12
What's your take on Gasquet and that cocaine ban?
posted on 16/5/12
I don't think he used cocaine as a stimulant. It woudl be very bad cause it doesn't last more than an hour and that woudl be risky considering that a match could last longer. Plus what woudl he do it before the tournament. No once again, it simply a showcase to show the sport is after its cheats. I find absolutely disgusting that they picked on him knowing now how much trouble they get into NOT to catch the top ones.
posted on 16/5/12
He should've threatened to grass others (pun intended )