Tennis Chief Talks Sharapova Case, Hopes for Rio Olympics

(ATR) ITF president David Haggerty insists the sport’s anti-doping system is robust, saying the Maria Sharapova meldonium case "shows we don’t cover up anything".

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the SportAccord Convention in Lausanne, Haggerty declined to comment when asked if he held out hope for Sharapova competing at the Rio Olympics.

But he confirmed that the Russian would shortly face a disciplinary hearing, with the Tennis Integrity Unit expected to make a ruling in "two to three months".

Was there any hope Sharapova could make Rio 2016? "We follow WADA’s guidelines. On meldonium, they came up with three classifications. Based on these classifications the Sharapova case will continue to be heard," he said.

"I believe in clean athletes."

Haggerty, who succeeded Francesco Ricci Bitti as president last September, said the tennis federation had doubled the number of in and out of competition tests it conducts over the last four years.

"All the testing that we do we follow up on. Maria testing positive shows that we don’t cover up anything," he said. "We will enforce the rules as they should be, uniformly and consistently."

Asked if he was frustrated at the way WADA has handled the meldonium situation, he said that its president Craig Reedie had personally assured him that the science behind putting meldonium on the list of banned drugs was the same process undertaken for other prohibited substances.

"It probably could have been handled better but we are following their rules and suggestions," Haggerty said.

In the aftermath of the credibility-shredding scandals that have engulfed FIFA and the IAAF, Haggerty said the integrity of tennis is vital.

"Whether it’s doping, match-fixing, governance, administration, member nations… we will do everything possible to make sure that we have the fans, spectators, players… everyone believing that tennis is the sport that they want to play, they want to watch and that they believe is clean," he said.

The ITF chief did not display concern about match-fixing blighting tennis. A BBC/BuzzFeed investigation in January exposed evidence of suspected fixing over the last decade, implicating 16 players ranked in the top 50 who had been reported to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU).

"All sports have to be worried about the threat of corruption," Haggerty said. "We take it very seriously."

Haggerty spoke about the first quarter results of the integrity unit which are to be released later this month. Nearly 50 cases out of 25,000 tennis matches played have been reported to the TIU over suspicions related to match-fixing or illegal betting. "The TIU has the information and will investigate it," he said.

With Rio 2016 looming, Haggerty expressed concerns about the venue. The court surface still needs to be repainted and the lights are not installed.

"Things are progressing but they are not finished. When you have a night session and you don’t have lights that could be a problem," he quipped.

Haggerty heads to Rio on May 4 for a couple of days when he will hold talks with Rio 2016 officials and inspect the venue.

"I think it will be a great event. I am very pleased with our location in the Olympic Park. As you first come in it is one of the first venues you see," he said. "The top players are all excited. We must make sure we deliver on their expectations."

Reported by Mark Bisson in Lausanne.

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