Pubdate: Wed,  3 Jul 2002
Source: Mirror, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 The Mirror
Contact:  http://www.mirror.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1161
Author: Darren Lewis
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

CAPRIATI IN DRUGS FURY

'Random Testing Is An Invasion Of Our Bodies'

Self-Confessed drug-taker Jennifer Capriati last night slammed plans to 
randomly dope-test female players.

Capriati is the one tennis player known to have taken drugs after being 
arrested in possession of marijuana in 1995.

Yet she hit out at the Women's Tour officials last night, insisting they 
have no right to turn up unannounced at the homes of players to ask for 
samples.

Reigning Wimbledon queen Venus Williams backed the scheme just hours 
earlier, maintaining she had nothing to hide.

But Capriati, who plays Amelie Mauresmo of France in the quarter-finals 
today, said: "I think that's a bit of an invasion. Something to think 
about. I don't know if they are really going to go through with that or not.

"But I just don't think they have any kind of right to see what's going on 
inside your body, whatever, even if you are not doing anything."

The system is currently operating on the men's tour and has so far caught 
three male players. But it has not yet been introduced on the women's tour 
because of a lack of cash.

Capriati was speaking after beating Greek star Eleni Daniilidou in a 
rain-interrupted three sets, 6-1 3-6 6-1.

But she insisted that if testers were looking for steroid abuse in the 
women's game, they would have no luck.

She went on: "Maybe if there was a real question or someone in particular 
in question, then I could see the point.

"But until then, no. I don't think that's something you have to get started."

The WTA plan to begin testing later this year and their legal chief Tandy 
O'Donoghue last night defended the proposals to allow drug-busters to turn 
up out of the blue.

O'Donoghue said: "It's a difficult question but there can be no excuses for 
not testing. We want to do it, we plan to do it and we hope to do some in 
2002 and 2003."

Williams, meanwhile, warned that players must be safeguarded against 
hoaxers trying to use the new laws to intrude on players' private lives.

The world No.1 revealed that, before Wimbledon, a hoaxer tried to get into 
her house by posing as a random drug tester.

She said: "I realise in other sports they do lots of testing so I wouldn't 
be against it, I suppose. But I think there has at least to be notice. I 
wouldn't let anyone in my house if I am not expecting them. Showing up at 
my door? Are you kidding?

"Actually that happened to me. Someone tried to get in the development I 
live in, doing a drug test. He said that if I was not tested within the 
next two hours, I wouldn't be playing on tour."

The prankster claimed to be from the United States Anti-Doping Agency and 
insisted he had to see her.

Williams added: "You know, there's always someone at the gates trying to 
get in. This was right before Wimbledon."

Asked if the ruse worked, Venus laughed: "No. Normally I tell the gate 
people 'Tell them Venus moved to Siberia some months ago!'"

Williams beat Russia's Elena Likhovtseva 6-2 6-0 in just under an hour to 
move into the semi-finals against Justine Henin. Her sister Serena 
currently has a bodyguard at Wimbledon after an obsessive fan was arrested 
for pursuing her at tournaments in Italy and Germany.

The fan was alleged to have sent e-mails to her asking to meet her and to 
allow him to kiss her. He was recently arrested in America but released 
without charge.

However, he was spotted in the crowd at the French Open, sparking fresh 
fears for Serena's safety.

Meanwhile Venus revealed she has still not yet reached top form, despite 
blowing Likhovtseva away with the minimum of fuss.

The 22-year-old left the Centre Court crowd in no doubt about which way 
this match would go when she moved into a 4-2 first-set lead, leaving 
vapour trails with her fearsome forehand.

Venus dismantled Likhovtseva's game in the second set so ruthlessly that 
you wanted to go on court and throw in a towel on the Russian's behalf. Not 
before a brief scare, however, in the first game of that set. As she put 
away an attempted lob by Likhovtseva to go 30-0 up, Williams appeared to 
pull up and limp away.

Any fears that the she may have broken down were soon swept away as her 
that forehand left Likhovtseva shaking her head in submission.

But Williams said afterwards: "I'd like to improve a lot more.

"I think I hit a lot of balls up the middle, and maybe my preparation was a 
little slow."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom