Yanina Wickmayer seemed none too pleased after getting approached by an Indonesian journalist at Nusa Dua in Bali a day after getting hit with a one-year ban for violating doping regulations. She voluntarily with drew from The Tournament of Champions today after learning the news.
Though she is still considering an appeal, the suspension would still stand during the process which would keep her out of the game for several months. Wicky would need to take her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The U.S. Open semifinalist's spokesperson, Rudi Kuyl, said her lawyers are considering asking the CAS to suspend the ruling which, "[t]hey have never done this, but apparently they can do it," he said.
Xavier Malisse broke down in tears at a press conference in Antwerp, Belgium while discussing his ban. The former Top-20 baller was handed the year-long suspension after missing a test and failing to inform his whereabouts twice to national anti-doping officials.
The X-Man sounded defeated in the presser and wasn't sure if he would fight the ban:
It is very hard to come back...in a year's time I will be 30 and a half. I will then have to play Challengers and Futures again. That is something I can't really see myself doing. It is hard to get a one-year suspension if you never used doping.Tough times indeed. Stay tuned.
(Photos: Reuters, AP)
Gototennis also quotes him as saying he doesn't have the financial resources to appeal. That is absolute ballhang if he cannot even afford to get a chance to clear his name.
ReplyDeletesad for him. I would HATE to be in any kind of legal battle. It would suck so much energy...
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