I think this complicated case is finally over – Yanina Wickmayer’s ban was suspended by a Belgian court on Monday and now the International Tennis Federation, having consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency, has confirmed that Wickmayer is eligible to start competing.
The world No.16 has a wildcard for ASB Classic in Auckland, and is hoping to get a wildcard to play in the Australian Open. (via Women Who Serve, photo: emmett.hume)
Yanina Wickmayer’s doping ban was suspended on Monday, but the Belgian is not eligible to enter tournaments yet.
The International Tennis Federation still considers the ban active, and it will be so until they "receive further communication to suggest otherwise". They are waiting for an official correspondence from the Belgian anti-doping authorities.
All I can say, too complicated… But I hope everything will be resolved in due time and Wickmayer will be able to make use of her ASB Classic wildcard and compete at the start of the new season. (source: BBC, photo: emmett.hume)
Yanina Wickmayer has had her one-year ban suspended by a Belgian court and her lawyers hope she will be back competing as soon as possible. The world No.16 hopes to receive a wildcard for the 2010 Australian Open.
Wickmayer has, however, already been offered a wildcard for the January 5-10 ASB Classic in New Zealand.
"As our entries have closed the only way she could enter would be via wildcard, and the indication is she wants to play and now we just have to wait for officials to confirm she is allowed to," said ASB Classic tournament director Brenda Perry.
The 20-year-old Wickmayer was suspended in November, for failing to report her whereabouts three times, and thus breaking World Anti-Doping Agency rules. (source: ESPN, photo: emmett.hume)
World No.16 Yanina Wickmayer is starting an appeal with European authorities, challenging the whereabouts rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The Belgian's victory could force WADA to change the rules regarding when and where athletes can be tested out of competition.
Wickmayer received a one-year ban – the 20-year-old never skipped a test or tested positive but she failed to report her whereabouts on three occasions and her career is severely impacted now.
"The indispensable fight against doping is not the issue here. The problem is the lack of proportionality of certain measures," said Wickmayer's lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont.
Wickmayer is already appealing her suspension before the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. (source: The Associated Press, photo: emmett.hume)
Belgian world No.16 Yanina Wickmayer got a one-year suspension, having failed to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials on three occasions. The 20-year-old is now explaining the whole story, step by step.
Here’s the full transcript of Wickmayer’s presser at the Koning Boudewijn Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.
Welcome,
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who is present here today. It is extremely important for me to be able to tell my story.
- November and December 2008, I was training in Switzerland.
- In January 2009, I was in Australia to prepare myself for the Australian Open.
- Because of this, all of the letters that were sent to my house that had to be signed for, I was unable to receive and were returned to sender.
- On February 18, 2009 I went online and Googled the general email address of the doping agency, and sent them and email to ask for information as I had heard several players talk about the new anti doping program. Read more »
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