Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has shared her thoughts on Novak Djokovic's upsetting experience with anti-doping officials at the 2023 Davis Cup Finals.
Djokovic was required to undergo blood and urine tests before his singles match against Cameron Norrie on November 23, in the quarterfinal of the Davis Cup. The decision clearly upset Djokovic, who was in the middle of his pre-match routine, some 90 minutes before he went to the court.
Djokovic did not "refuse" to provide the requested samples contrary to some outlandish reporting by journalists, and cooperated to do so after the match. The ITIA clarified this in a statement reported by L'Equipe, saying that the Serb followed all protocols and never refused to do the tests.
Marion Bartoli, a staunch supporter of Djokovic both on and off the court, has since leaped on her defense and hit out at some of the British outlets trying to tarnish the Serbian's name while speaking on RMC Sports' show Les Grandes Gueules du Sport.
The retired WTA star opined there is "no difference" in taking a doping test either before or after the match since the player is under constant monitoring by the doping official.
"When you know you're going to have a doping test, you have someone following you all day. As soon as you leave the court, he follows you, he is in the locker room when you take your shower. And if you can't go to the bathroom he accompanies you to a press conference until you can urinate."
According to Bartoli, there is no difference to whether the sample is taken before, or after the match.
"So I don't see what difference it makes whether it's done before or after, especially since after the matches the urinary concentration is greater because during the match there is a dehydration effect. The 'trial' that we tried to do against Djokovic is linked to this British press which knows nothing, and which allows itself to accuse the players, it’s disgusting, it’s shameful, and completely unjustified."
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