One of the leading players in the WTA currently, Aryna Sabalenka, has opted to be careful and cautious regarding comments on doping cases. The question came to light after Australian player Max Purcell was suspended for an anti-doping breach.
Purcell was suspended after he got two intravenous infusions — a practice specifically prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) case documents, Purcell tried covering up the infusions by simulating injury. Purcell was said to have accessed the internet to learn about the 100 milliliter threshold allowed by WADA, indicating a familiarity with the violation.
While intravenous infusions were a standard element of athletic recovery in the past, they have been tightly controlled since 2005.
According to current regulations, infusions over 100 ml only occur if medically indicated and pre-approved, as they can be used to conceal taking performance-enhancing drugs. Such infusions are said by experts to help recovery and improve performance, and are frequently undetectable in routine drug tests, leading to concern about continued abuse.
When questioned on the Purcell case, Sabalenka was diplomatic, declining to comment directly. “That’s a good question,” she replied. “Those things are always changing. I’m really glad that I have a good team around me. I can trust them. I know that whatever my team is advising me, I know they double-checked it 1000 times with the system… if we are allowed or not.”
Sabalenka emphasized her reliance on a trusted support system to navigate the complex and shifting landscape of anti-doping regulations.
She said, “I never say anything about the doping cases because you never know. Some things happen accidentally. Some things were likely… I don’t know… whatever… could be present. I do not like to speak about them.”
Sabalenka’s hesitation to comment on doping cases follows the delicacy with which such issues are treated in professional sports.
As anti-doping laws continue to change and the stakes have never been greater, most athletes prefer prudence over gossip — a view widely held by the Belarusian superstar.