Maybe Djokovic got caught out in the same way and that's why he isn't playing Miami
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Restless Native
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I've always said I wouldn't be shocked if it came out that Novak was the Lance Armstrong of the tennis World.Maybe Djokovic got caught out in the same way and that's why he isn't playing Miami
Rafa being a drug cheat wouldn't shock me either. Not saying he is one but wouldn't be completely shocked either
JAR21
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There is absolutely no way Rafa is a cheat of any kind.
Restless Native
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I dont think he is but Spain have a horrible reputation for doping in sports
Humphrey Rudge
Chatty Member
They are regularly tested so it seems unlikely they would successfully avoid detection after all these years.
It's actually quite easy to avoid detection in most Sports and in Tennis particularly. If you read the article, it's clear Simona got caught because she lost a match that she expected to win. The following is a comment that was left on the Times article online that doesn't shop in the archive version that gives more context to Simona and how she got caught.
Really informative article.
As you are testing athletes at physiological extremes there can be grey areas where it would be reasonable to support the athlete (eg. Ventolin doses as in Froome case particularly when adjustment for urine concentration didn't happen or endogenous testosterone) but this is one of the most clear cut cases of doping.
I hadn't realised that the timing of testing in tennis is related to how likely you are to go deep into the tournament, but if this is true then it's crazy and the unexpectedly early loss could be relevant. The half-life of roxadustat is about 12hrs, so even 2 days after the last dose there would only be one sixteenth of the dose left in the system while the biological effect (increased haemoglobin) will last weeks.
Roxadustat is very uncommonly used v EPO as a medicine hence it is highly unlikely to get into a product unless the company intended it. In addition the dose clearly was sufficient to cause a biological effect on the passport so we aren't looking at traces here.
This is a really disappointing decision and I'd be equally angry if I were Wozniacki.
Sports rely on individual Countries to carry out testing so if you live in Dubai which does pretty much no testing at all then the chances of you getting caught are practically zero. Roger Federer did get tested a lot because he predominately lived in Switzerland and the drug tester lived in the next village so he was always 'popping in' for a drug test and a chat but if Roger decided to spend a month in Dubai that would then give him an opportunity to dope (not that I think Roger did but the point is that any player could go to Dubai in the Winter under the guise of a warm weather block of training and pretty much dope with impunity.
ButtonDownTheHutches
VIP Member
I’ve fallen down a bit of a tennis/doping rabbit hole. 
It’s waaaaaaaaay murkier than I ever imagined!
This is the player that Rafa beat in the French Open final in 2005, who was subsequently banned for 8 years for doping (reduced to 2 years on the basis of what he later admitted were outright lies in his defence)
www.espn.co.uk
It’s waaaaaaaaay murkier than I ever imagined!
This is the player that Rafa beat in the French Open final in 2005, who was subsequently banned for 8 years for doping (reduced to 2 years on the basis of what he later admitted were outright lies in his defence)
Retired Puerta admits lying to CAS about doping
Retired tennis player Mariano Puerta has admitted he lied to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reduce his suspension after a second positive doping test.
LipstickCherry
Chatty Member
I've just watched Nadal v Hurkacz. I've never been a Rafa fan. It's always been Andy Murray and a little bit of Federer for me. However, I was quite emotional as Rafa left the court in Rome. An absolute legend whether you're a fan or not.
Restless Native
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I was never a fan of Rafa either but it's the real end of a golden era for tennis imo. I don't think il ever be quite as invested again in it. The big 4 was an awesome time
Humphrey Rudge
Chatty Member
He was really down after it. He said he's not playing well and still doesn't know if he'll play Roland Garros although he is edging towards playing it. It'll kill him being destroyed on clay like we saw yesterday. Hurkacz is a good player but he's not someone who has been know to do great on clay. God help Rafa if he comes up against a top clay courter at Roland Garros.
LipstickCherry
Chatty Member
He can't be what he was though. That's in the past. I'd love him to play the French Open and win two or three matches, just to say goodbye. God, this is upsetting.
veronica71
VIP Member
I feel the French and Wimbledon will be so sad saying goodbye to Rafa and I think Andy and still Novak keeps going 
Humphrey Rudge
Chatty Member
I feel the French and Wimbledon will be so sad saying goodbye to Rafa and I think Andy and still Novak keeps going
Novak has just been well beaten in two sets by Tabilo. Age may finally be catching up with him. I guess we'll find out at the grand slams if he really is in decline or if he simply isn't giving his all at the non grand slam events.
veronica71
VIP Member
Oh fab - as amazing as the big four have been it is always good to see new players coming through and winning
Taken from twitter, no matter what you think of Novak that reusable water bottle hitting him is not how anyone would have wanted this clay season to play out. I'm not going to say it should have been Zverev, but..
I don't think he's exaggerating with how it affected his game.
I don't think he's exaggerating with how it affected his game.
Makes me think of this tweet
Sick in the head got me
Brutal to Grigor, brutal!
londongirl2001
VIP Member
If you’re hit on the head by a metal object AND feel dizzy afterwards for a while, shouldn’t physical activity be the last thing you do? Is this a case of Novak not listening to medical advice (wouldn’t be the first time), him getting wrong advice or, well, another case in many where he needs to find a reason why he lost?
I said above originally metal as that's what people were saying on social media, but looking at the other video from afar and the bounce I think it looks plastic. 
at me taking as fact what people say on social media 
I'm thinking maybe if there wasn't much of a physical injury (although bleeding is stated) he could have psychologically convinced himself it's affected him.
at me taking as fact what people say on social media I'm thinking maybe if there wasn't much of a physical injury (although bleeding is stated) he could have psychologically convinced himself it's affected him.
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