'Feels Like Prisoner': Ruud Slams Anti-Doping Rules That Caused Ymer's Ban

ATP
Sunday, 23 July 2023 at 10:00
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Casper Ruud added his name to the list of players that reacted negatively to the Mikael Ymer suspension from a few days ago.

Ymer was suspended for 18 months after a sequence of events that began with his missing his 3rd doping test. Players are allowed to miss up to 2 tests within a 12-month period, with a 3rd missed test resulting in an automatic ban.

Jenson Brooksby was recently suspended for missing a 3rd test, something he will appeal. Well, Ymer did just that and won his appeal, which allowed him to continue playing, but the ITF then brought his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled against the World No. 51 on the ATP Tour.

It's something that rubbed many players the wrong way because the federation is supposed to protect the players, not actively work against them. After all, Ymer simply missed the tests, he didn't actually take a banned substance, so appealing his acquittal seemed like a power play more than anything.

The system has been in place for years but many players already had problems with it over the years. Ruud himself doesn't particularly enjoy it as it almost feels like a prison at times because they are ruthless in enforcing it.

It feels like you are a prisoner in a way because if you are not there when they show up then you have problems, Let's say you have to be home between 9-10pm one evening. Then a friend calls and asks if we should go out to dinner. Then you can't do it because you have to be at home that hour in case the doping inspectors come.
Mikael has made a mistake, but I know from my own experience that you can miss that hour some day and then they call and say: ‘You have five minutes to come here or you will get a warning,’ and it can feel like someone checks one.

While the rules have been in place for years and players are used to them, Ruud found it very problematic that Ymer appealed the case and was acquitted only for that decision to be appealed by the Federation. He doesn't understand why because that wasn't in the interest of the player, something which should be their main goal.

It's tough but those are the rules. What was surprising was that he was acquitted, but that the union appealed. It is surprising. I thought the federation would help players, not try to punish them. This shows that they are not helping the players, in this case.Without the players, there is no tournament. They should show that they want to help the players.
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