Novak Djokovic wasn't impressed with something that had never happened in 20 years of his career before, and it had to do with anti-doping agents at the 2023 Davis Cup.
After beating almost everybody in Turin, Djokovic made his way to Malaga for some Davis Cup action. As you might have imagined, he didn't really miss a beat and cruised easily past Cameron Norrie in two sets.
What happened before the match is something Djokovic never experienced, though. Speaking to Serbian outlet Sportklub after the match, Djokovic admitted he was visited by anti-doping agents before the start of the match.
It never happened before and left him quite annoyed because the last thing he needs before a match is distractions like that.
I haven't undergone the complete doping control yet; I need to give blood. I had a brief argument with people from the anti-doping agency. I couldn't believe they made such a decision. In 20 or more years of my career, it has never happened that an hour and a half before a match, I have to go for doping control. I have my routine; I don't need this distraction, having them take my urine and blood, making me wonder if I can give urine at that moment.
An illogical situation and decision. They told me that one of the important reasons for that decision is that it would end late, so they wanted to give us more time for rest, but there was a day off... People from the anti-doping agency didn't want to stay late; that was the second reason.
Djokovic further clarified that he's in favour of rigorous testing but he wasn't impressed with this decision. Testing has been called into question this year after several players came out with rather bizarre stories of how the agents handle it.
I support being tested, me or anyone else – a hundred times, it's not a problem, but not before the match. When I finish, come, test me. I haven't seen any reason or logic, but that's what it is – now I'll be drawing blood, but I hope they'll change such decisions. It's shameful what they have done.
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