WASHINGTON, January 24, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)
Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska flew to Australia last week in the hope of having her provisional doping suspension for using a prohibited substance that can be used to boost testosterone lifted by the International Tennis Federation so she could compete in the Australian Open. On Saturday, the 29th-ranked Yastremska had her application denied by the ITF.
In a press release issued by the ITF, an application by the 20-year-old Yastremska to lift the provisional suspension imposed on her on January 7 undated Article 8.3.1 (c) of the 2020 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme was denied by the Chair of the Independent Tribunal convened to hear her case. Yastremska has the right to appeal Saturday’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Yastremska provided an out-of-competition urine sample on November 24, which was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain mesterolone metabolite, a non-specified substance, which is prohibited under category S1 of the 2020 WADA Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents), and therefore is also prohibited under the Programme. Positive tests for non-specified substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension.
Then, on December 22, Yastremska was charged with an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme (presence of a prohibited substance in a player’s sample) and was provisionally suspended earlier this month on January 7.
In a statement on her Twitter feed earlier this month, Yastremska, who has won three career WTA singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of No. 21 last year, said she was “astonished and under shock.
“I firmly state that I have never used any performance enhancing drugs or any prohibited substances,” she wrote.
Statement: pic.twitter.com/pBEpJ8gkls
— Dayana Yastremska (@D_Yastremska) January 7, 2021
Saturday’s ruling means Yastremska is out of the year’s first major. She arrived in Melbourne last week on one of the contaminated flights and has waiting out a 14-day strict quarantine lockdown. When that ends, she will not be allowed to enter the Melbourne Park grounds.
Craig Tiley: See you next year champ
Tennis Australia chief executive and Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley always has a kind word to share on Twitter. On Saturday, he sent best wishes to Andy Murray:
We’ll miss you @andy_murray – see you next year champ. https://t.co/VnOdAEguIU
— Craig Tiley (@CraigTiley) January 23, 2021
João Sousa: Tests positive for COVID-19
The last time 92nd-ranked João Sousa of Portugal missed a Grand Slam was Roland Garros 2011 and the last main draw was Wimbledon 2013). Now, Sousa has confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t travel to Melbourne to compete in next month’s Australian Open. He has since tested negative and is asymptomatic.
“Even though I already tested negative and have no symptoms, due to the strict rules of the Australian government, I won’t be able to travel,” Sousa wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
Sousa is now negative and asymptomatic, but couldn’t find a way to travel to Melbourne and quarantine later, despite Tennis Australia’s efforts. Similar situation to Murray’s.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 23, 2021
Heather Watson: Making the most of her strict quarantine
Whether dancing at 2 a.m. or making creative Tik-Tok videos, Great Britain’s Heather Watson has been making the most of her strict quarantine and wrote about it for Metro.co.uk.
On the day Andy Murray announced he couldn’t find a ‘workable quarantine’ to play the Australian Open, his compatriot Heather Watson – halfway through her 14-day stint in a Melbourne hotel room – has written for @MetroUK about her experiences so far 👇https://t.co/VfIvjpRjFL
— George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) January 22, 2021
Happy 35th Birthday, Pablo Andújar
Happy Birthday to four-time ATP Tour singles champion @AndujarPablo! pic.twitter.com/bnFokoRARa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 23, 2021
What they’re saying
“I am in favor of women to play in 5 sets, firstly in Grand Slam finals. There are too many one-sided finals. (…) It would take women’s tennis to another level.”
Agree or not with Amélie Mauresmo?
(via @eurosport_fr) pic.twitter.com/Mlgnm5X0dd
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) January 21, 2021
What they’re writing
• Tennis writer and historian Joel Drucker has written an enjoyable tale about one of the classiest people in tennis, Kathy Rinaldi, for Tennis.com.
Enjoyed writing this tale about one of the classiest people in tennis, Kathy Rinaldi, aided by insights from @thetracyaustin @Tennis @TennisChannel https://t.co/XJugBm0fI1
— joeldrucker (@joeldrucker) January 23, 2021
• David Kane shares a Tennis.com exclusive about Elena Vesnina of Russia, who is returning to the WTA Tour after taking time off to start a family.
So excited to share this @TENNIS exclusive with @EVesnina001 on her @WTA comeback, and how she hopes to inspire daughter Elizaveta.
“I want to teach her how to be free, to not be afraid of making a first step in anything, even when it’s difficult.”
📝: https://t.co/ZgQfyUAnBk pic.twitter.com/NyL4VfqLV3
— David Kaneツ (@DKTNNS) January 22, 2021
What they’re podcasting
The Tennis.com Podcast with Nina Pantic and Irina Falconi welcomes former player turned analyst Chanda Rubin.
.@Chanda_Rubin was an absolute delight on our show this week, talking #AusOpen memories and challenges, her show “Game, Set, Chat!”, Serena Williams, Harvard and more.
LISTEN → https://t.co/CcNZLREcK0
WATCH → https://t.co/DJthUVNojL pic.twitter.com/rDJzVCo5BG
— Nina Pantic (@NinaPantic1) January 22, 2021
What they’re sharing on social media
Petra Martic / Happy to be practicing
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Corentin Moutet / My favorite tournament
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Caroline Wozniacki / Love a good sunset
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