Rochus Continues to Insist there is Doping in Tennis

Written by: Staff on 21st January 2013

Davis Cup World Group Play-off Belgium vs Sweden

Rochus Continues to Insist there is Doping in Tennis

epa03398866 Belgian Christophe Rochus returns the ball during the Davis Cup World Group Play-off round match between Belgium and Sweden, in Brussels, Belgium, 15 September 2012. The Belgium vs Sweden World Group Play-off takes place from 14 to 16 September in Brussels. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND |

Christophe Rochus is no longer on the ATP World Tour and isn’t at the Australian Open but his insistence that doping exists in men’s tennis with his insistence: “It is inconceivable that you can play five hours in the sun and run around like a rabbit the next day”.

Nobody angered more by the Rochus comments than world no.3 Andy Murray who insists he is drug tested regularly, both urine and blood. Although the Belgian was careful not to point his allegations at any one player in particular, his inference was clear.

Murray, never a man to hold back from arguing with a statement if he feels it is unjust, said: “I would say that is far from the truth. Anyone can see the amount of hours of training and practice that go into what we do and there are other sports that are endurance-wise far more challenging than tennis.

“When guys play five or six hours in the slams, we have a day’s rest. I was told that after our semi-final here last year [which ran only 10 minutes short of five hours], Novak Djokovic didn’t practice on the day off, didn’t hit a ball, didn’t get out of bed till three o’clock.

“Providing you put the work in, it doesn’t mean it hurts any less when you have to play a couple of days after a five-hour match. But I would not say it is impossible.”

Murray spent much of the off-season working on physical conditioning in Miami with coach Ivan Lendl and fitness coach Jez Green. He did acknowledge that tennis is now a fierce proving ground, and that players have to adapt to survive at the top.

“Rafa was the first one to have a physique that looked like a true world-class athlete across any sport,” he said. “Tennis players are always in good shape but I think he looked like he could do any sport.

“The game has changed, for sure, physically. It’s much more demanding, and I have adapted my preparation and training, reducing the amount of tournaments I play and spending more time preparing, getting myself ready for events.

“Not everybody does that but I believe that’s the best way to go about it, spending more time in the gym in the off-season. You do see better results.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Australian Open, Christophe Rochus, Sports, tennis anti doping, Tennis News