Players to undergo random blood tests

TENNIS: Players at next month's Australian Open will face random tests for the banned blood-boosting drug EPO (erythropoietin), the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said yesterday.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) have had their rules changed to allow blood testing to help detect EPO and related substances, and the ITF said widespread EPO testing would start in January.

EPO urine tests were undertaken at this year's Davis Cup semi-final and final in Paris. EPO is banned because of its ability to enhance performance and the serious health risks it poses to athletes.

During this year's Wimbledon championships, the ITF outlined proposals to increase the level of testing in tennis, including blood screening and a more advanced system of urine testing. A players' council indicated it was in favour of EPO testing at a meeting two days before the start of the US Open in August.

First-time offenders will receive two-year bans while a second positive test will result in a life ban. But not all players are in favour.

Australian Open winner Jennifer Capriati voiced her concerns in July. "I think that's a bit of an invasion," the American said of the planned tests.

"I just don't think they have any right to kind of see what's going on inside your body, even if you're not doing anything."

In the past two years, Argentinian players Juan Ignacio Chela and Guillermo Coria have been handed stiff penalties following positive dope tests.

Chela was suspended for three months after testing positive for the banned steroid methyltestosterone. Coria tested positive for nandrolone and was banned for seven months.

The ITF currently spends $1 million on doping tests each year. A basic urine test, which can detect the presence of steroids, costs $150.

Last year, 700 tennis players, men and women, underwent basic urine tests. Each top 10 male player was tested on average more than seven times.

Since dope testing was introduced seven years ago, there have been 8,000 tests. Of those 8,000 just seven have been positive.

Meanwhile, defending men's champion Thomas Johansson (27), of Sweden is uncertain of defending his Australian Open title because of a knee injury.

Fellow Swede Jonas Bjorkman (30), may also miss the opening Grand Slam of the season because his wife Petra is due to give birth on December 31th.

Britain's Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski are engaged in fitness battles.

Rusedski recently returned to full training after an ankle operation, having not played since the US Open in September.

However, Henman is optimistic of returning to full fitness in time for the tournament after shoulder surgery in November.