Rafa Nadal

[Polish]

I am quite certain that only female testers, test female athletes, and male testers, test male athletes.


Serena's claim that she thought the tester was a prowler is BS. The tester would have done what all testers do, go to the front door, ring the bell, then wait. She would NOT have made any attempt to enter the premises, until she was let in.
Also note that THE ATHLETE determines the time of day and place of the test (just the date is determined by the testers). She SHOULD NOT have been surprised that the tester showed up there at that time.

That is what I'm thinking too.
A solitary female shows up at 6am, Serena has been tested enough times to know that the person is a tester.
Even though it is still dark at 6am out in the land of the 4th GT, sure seems like BS.

Now if a GUY shows up at 6am and says he wants to take a pee sample - that is 911 material. I mean this is Los Angeles.

Who does the testing? USADA? Tennis Federation?
I would like to hear their side of the story.

 

[Andynonomous]

...
Who does the testing? USADA? Tennis Federation?
I would like to hear their side of the story.

The ITF is responsible (tennis equivalent to the UCI) for testing. They may contract it out to laboratories though (for all I know).

I doubt that the ITF will give their side of the story. The ITF is intimidated by the players. The players recently threatened to form a union. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

 

[Andynonomous]

I see from this poll at a tennis site, that the significant majority of tennis fans suspect that Serena Williams faked her panic to get out of a drug test.
(I encourage you to answer the poll question)

http://www.tennis.com/messageboards/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=19762&posts=15&start=1


If the majority of fans suspect she is cheating, then wouldn't the majority of tennis journalists suspect her as well ? Why doesn't the tennis media ask her pointed questions ?

 

[Altitude]

Tennis players dont dope. As Saint Rafael of Mallorca, - the most benevolent of people, has said, only cyclists dope.

Therefore Serena is clean. duh.

Did Nadal actually say that only cyclists dope or is my sarcasm detector out of tune?

 

[Andynonomous]

Did Nadal actually say that only cyclists dope or is my sarcasm detector out of tune?

Pretty close.

Nadal also added that in cycling, these doping cases 'arise constantly' and also expressed his disappointment saying - "It is tremendous the amount of damage this causes sport and the doubt it casts over other athletes.''

From :
http://www.tennisearth.com/news/tennisNews/Nadal-shows-concern-over-increasing-doping-cases-416609.htm

Of course, Nadal insists that there is no doping in tennis.
http://mg.co.za/article/2009-11-11-nadal-says-there-is-no-doping-in-tennis


And here he is celebrating Contador's "exoneration".

From :
http://www.davidbisbalweb.com/con-rafael-nadal-y-alberto-contador/

 

[Altitude]

LMAO - who is that on the left?

 

[hrotha]

LMAO - who is that on the left?

David Bisbal, one of those terrible American Idol-style singers and the **** of many jokes on Twitter.

 

[Andynonomous]

I am pretty sure Nadal is actually hinting that "Cycling, should do like Tennis, and make sure that no stars ever get caught, because it hurts everyone's reputation".

I guess he is right. Cycling has a worse public reputation than tennis does, because (as weak as it is), cycling's testing regime is MUCH stronger than tennis's is.

 

[Kvinto]

David Bisbal, one of those terrible American Idol-style singers and the **** of many jokes on Twitter.

sorry but i just can't resist temptation of asking:
why does he dope?

 

[hrotha]

sorry but i just can't resist temptation of asking:
why does he dope?

Does autotuning count as doping?

 

[happychappy]

Does autotuning count as doping?

Isn't that just being a dope?

 

[Ney the Viking]

Wozniacki tweeted this morning that she got a surprise doping test at 6am. So apparently someone does out of season surprise testing in Tennis, who would have known

 

[Andynonomous]

Wozniacki tweeted this morning that she got a surprise doping test at 6am. So apparently someone does out of season surprise testing in Tennis, who would have known

There does seem to be an increase in "tweeting" (complaining) by the players this fall.

Of course, if you wanted to make sure you DIDN'T catch the cheats, mid-September, through November would be the perfect time to test (the longest yearly break between "Grand Slams" is mid-September through mid-January). The players wouldn't start "cycling up" for the next "Grand Slam" until late November, to mid-December. The best time to catch them would be early December to mid-January.

Call me a cynic, but I suspect that the ITF is just "inflating the numbers" on OOC tests to "prove" that they are doing a good job on trying to catch the cheats. If they continue the OOC tests through December, and broaden them to include more blood tests, and tests for EPO, then I will be impressed.

 

[Cloxxki]

There does seem to be an increase in "tweeting" (complaining) by the players this fall.

Of course, if you wanted to make sure you DIDN'T catch the cheats, mid-September, through November would be the perfect time to test (the longest yearly break between "Grand Slams" is mid-September through mid-January). The players wouldn't start "cycling up" for the next "Grand Slam" until late November, to mid-December. The best time to catch them would be early December to mid-January.

Call me a cynic, but I suspect that the ITF is just "inflating the numbers" on OOC tests to "prove" that they are doing a good job on trying to catch the cheats. If they continue the OOC tests through December, and broaden them to include more blood tests, and tests for EPO, then I will be impressed.

Also, we'll never know what they're testing for. And if they ever take blood. Let alone review the numbers at any time. We've seen what transparency in cycling brought us..
Let The Clinic make suggestions on whom to be checked, and when. You'll get more positives for your anti-doping budget.

 

[Andynonomous]

There was testing of all of the players on the Argentinian Davis Cup team (national team tennis championships held annually). Argentina is playing Spain this year.

Of course Nadal complained again, even though he wasn't tested !

"We all want a clean sport," said Rafael Nadal, who leads the Spanish team. "But the system and the way it is used leaves much to be desired."

http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Argentine-Davis-team-called-early-for-drug-tests-2337616.php#ixzz1fIqSyQfm



He doesn't have a clue that every time he complains about OOC testing (which is done on average only once per year for pro tennis players), it is more circumstantial evidence against him.

I stand by my assessment that Nadal is a dimwit.

 

[Señor_Contador]

There was testing of all of the players on the Argentinian Davis Cup team (national team tennis championships held annually). Argentina is playing Spain this year.

Of course Nadal complained again, even though he wasn't tested !

"We all want a clean sport," said Rafael Nadal, who leads the Spanish team. "But the system and the way it is used leaves much to be desired."

http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Argentine-Davis-team-called-early-for-drug-tests-2337616.php#ixzz1fIqSyQfm



He doesn't have a clue that every time he complains about OOC testing (which is done on average only once per year for pro tennis players), it is more circumstantial evidence against him.

I stand by my assessment that Nadal is a dimwit.

And you think he cares about your a$$essment?

 

[Andynonomous]

And you think he cares about your a$$essment?

He shouldn't give a darn about my assessment of his intellect. Yet he should care about the public's perception about his repeated whining about drug testing.

 

[sniper]

spain - argentina, 2-0
what a surprise.

 

[Andynonomous]

spain - argentina, 2-0
what a surprise.

Both of the Spaniards that won todays matches (Nadal, Ferrer) played in the Year end Championships last week. Their Argentinian opponents (Del Potro, Monaco) didn't play last week, and have played far fewer matches over the course of the year. Yet it was the two Spaniards who looked fresher today.

I wonder why ?

 

[Andynonomous]

Nadal outdoes Djokovic's "pod", with secret technology of his own ("Burbuja magica").


Even though it is a "state secret", they took a picture of Nadal in it, then released it to the press (along with an explanation of how it works).


I must say, tennis has seen some amazing new technologies lately. From new Gluten-free diets, to magic pods, to grip changes that give you an extra 10 mph mid-career on your serve, to a magic "Burbuja" that looks suspiciously like an oxygen tent.

Very impressive. Thank you pro tennis, where the innovations keep coming.


Note, read the comments at the bottom of the article.

 

[sniper]

(...)
Note, read the comments at the bottom of the article.

Nice PR stunt by Nadal's team. The Spanish press is of course buying it. "El secreto de Nadal".

yep, some nice comments at the bottom (probably not from Spaniards). a selection:

Ese verso solo se lo pueden comer los españoles o quienes aun creen en Papa Noel.

No es ejemplo para los niños que ven a su ídolo haciendo estas cosas de circo. Lamentablemente se esta volviendo algo habitual en todos los deportes

 

[peloton]

It's not just Rafa complaining, as the Argetina captain shows.

 

[Cycle Chic]

What is the reason for testing so early morning ? it happens with the cyclists as well. Could it be to catch them running up and down the hotel corridors ?

Seriously though..why is that ??

 

[sniper]

growing muscles in an oxygen tent

This time, I think it is pretty clear. No foto-evidence needed:

Nadal playing with XL t-shirts in London two weeks ago, unsuccessfully trying to hide his untrained (read: unprepared) body.
Two weeks later, he's back hitting the ball with verocious power, and is back to the shortsleeved intimidation tactics, with a couple of kilo's extra muscle weight, winning the davis cup for Spain (obviously much more prestigious for Nadal than the ATP finals in London.)

Very few seem to be able to 'time' their 'preparation' as efficiently as Nadal.
I see him win another couple of slams next year, unless Djoker can prepare himself like he did last year and stay fit at the same time.

 

[Andynonomous]

What is the reason for testing so early morning ? it happens with the cyclists as well. Could it be to catch them running up and down the hotel corridors ?

Seriously though..why is that ??

The testers are not allowed to test overnight. So the ideal time for a cheat to administer any PED that leaves the system quickly is just before midnight. Therefore the most likely time you will catch the cheat with some trace of the substance, is first thing in the morning, since you can't test them earlier.

Of course, if all of the testing is early in the morning, the cheats will get wise to it, and administer their PEDs mid to late morning. The testers do still have to mix up which part of the day the testing is done, although early morning will probably continue to be the most common time for testing.

Another possible explanation, is that since the athletes determine the time of day that most of their OOC testing is done ("whereabouts" rules), the athlete is most likely to be at their designated location, first thing in the morning. Once they go out for the day, their location will be harder to fix (training times, and locations can change, based on venue availability, injuries,...). So the athlete chooses first thing in the morning to assure compliance with the "whereabouts" rule, since they know where they will be at that time of day.