Rochus Says Doping is Widespread

Written by: Staff on 16th January 2013

Rochus Says Doping is Widespread |

Clearly affected by the news that famous cyclist Lance Armstrong may soon admit on the Oprah Winfrey Show that he took performance enhancing drugs, Belgian tennis player Christophe Rochus has once again stated that he believes that doping in widespread in pro tennis

“I’m sure that this is a reality. I already said 10 years ago,” he told Twizz Radio. “The sport is more physical so obviously there are more temptations to be doping. Now, with the Armstrong case, one realizes that it is not because someone has not tested positive that this person has never doped. When we have is the means to get good doctors to do the research and they can produce something completely undetectable. So doping controls don’t really work, in my opinion, and they do not prove anything.

Rochus also said that when he first cracked the top 100 and stated in the media that that there were players who were doping that officials came down hard on him.

“ I received a threatening letter to the ATP Tour saying ‘This is the last time you speak that. You have no evidence, you have nothing.’ Finally, all the players I mentioned tested positive. They were all Argentines. Rather than all this hypocrisy I think it is better to legalize doping. When I say that, I mean that I won’t take such things because it is not good for you and doping is dangerous.

But talking to doctors, we’re not even sure if these products are harmful to health.”

Christophe also said that he and his brother Olivier have always been clean.

“We could have taken growth hormones, but we never did. It’s not worth the trouble. Maybe we should have. Maybe we would never tested positive. Maybe my brother would have been taller and would have been in the top 10 in the world . Everyone must make choices. Are you so desperate to be in the best in the world or are you willing to be just a very good athlete?

Rochus added that there is no way to stop doping in sport because it’s a popular spectacle and people always want to be successful.

“If after a five-set match that lasted five hours in the semifinals the player declares that he can not play in the final because he can not get up, the show is over,” he said. “It will never end. There is too much money, too many shows.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Lance Armstrong, oprah winfrey, Rochus, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, US tennis news