the Spin Team
On the day that Maria Sharapova stood on a podium in a
downtown Los Angeles hotel, criticised the hotel carpeting in the midst of
telling the whole world that she had been provisionally banned by the ITF as a
result of a failed doping test, the image which has been built by the best PR
image makers that IMG money can buy, has struck an odd and discordant note. It
is clear from Maria's tweets and Facebook posts that she does not see the irony
of her situation.
Her team, including
her attorney, John Haggerty, have been at pains to let the world know that what
occurred with Sharapova was a mistake. She had failed to click a link in an
email from WADA informing her that the drug that she had been taking for 10
years was going to be placed on the list of prohibited substances as of 1
January 2016. For Sharapova then to post a tweet telling the world about
reading emails from fans showing their support is ironic at best or shows the
complete and total disregard she holds for rules that must only apply to others,
not for herself.
However, this should not be surprising
to those of us who have followed Sharapova since that career defining win
against Serena in 2004 and the ensuing fawning of her by the media. Some
journalists have even turned themselves into her publicists, relating news
about Sharapova's injuries and the minutia of her life. What is surprising to
me is how much the media and those who considered themselves insiders with the
Sharapova camp were completely caught off guard by Monday's press
announcement. One would be forgiven if one sensed a hint of betrayal from
reporters who have discovered that they were not in the know. However, that has
not stopped them from falling in line when it comes to reporting about this
whole doping debacle. You get the sense that the sooner it is all dealt
with, the better the sport can be by doing what it does best, i.e. imitating
the behaviour of an ostrich.
Sharapova has
repeatedly stated how much this sport means to her. She and her team have
gone to great lengths to tell fans just how much tennis means to her. However,
a cursory review of Sharapova’s career shows that she has done little to
nothing to advance the sport of tennis.
For someone who loves the sport so much, she wasted little or no time in throwing not only her colleagues under the bus, but the whole sport of tennis:
"I won't pretend to be injured" to hide failed drug test, Sharapova writes. Implying others have, as long rumored. https://t.co/Qj0SWz2t02— Gerry Marzorati (@marzoTennis) March 11, 2016
Consider for a moment those players who have not
only acted as mentors to players from their own countries, whether it is in
coaching, mentoring, being practice partners, to going as far as being on the forefront of
changes within the sport (see Venus Williams), to sitting on the Players’
Council to effect meaningful change that benefits all players (see Clijsters,
Serena, Wozniacki) to being a symbol for women in countries where the
advancement of women's rights has been a long, painful and arduous journey (see
China (Li Na) and India (Sania Mirza), I have to ask myself, what has Sharapova done to advance the sport of tennis?
As far as I can see she has
done little to grow the sport of tennis in her native Russia or indeed in her
adopted country, the USA. So, I am at pains to figure out just what it is
about this sport that she loves so much. Is it the fact that it affords
her a reliable customer base for her candy line, or is it the fact that most,
if not all of her sponsors sell high end good which are targeted to the rich
folks who presumably frequent Porsche dealerships and TagHauer stores who only
drink Evian water and wear Tiffany jewels?
At the time this writing, the ITF has
yet to hand down its decision but already there have been dozens of articles
written stating that she should not be severely penalized. Contrast the
following articles which were written when Serena Williams cut her foot after
winning Wimbledon in 2010 and when she had a dizzy spell during a doubles match
at Wimbledon in 2015.
The NewYork Times stated that she needed to provide an explanation; and
The above articles are the usual pieces that are written
when anything remotely resembling the appearance of doping is attached to
Serena Williams. In the meantime, an athlete who has actually
committed a doping violation has barely faced any backlash. As a
matter of fact, fans and journalists alike were pissed beyond belief that NIKE
would abandon her in what they think is her time of need. As more and more details have
emerged as to the negligence that attended Sharapova’s decision not to click on
the link in her notification emails, HEAD, her racquet sponsor has come out in
support of Sharapova, stating that they are giving her the benefit of the
doubt. One wonders what will happen if the ITF/WADA decide to
impose a 4 year ban on the grounds that she was grossly negligent in continuing
to take a drug, for which she received adequate notice that it was about to be
placed on the list of prohibited substances. If I was a shareholder
of HEAD, I would demand that the CEO resign because clearly he is not making
decisions that are in the best interest of shareholders.
Today (14 March), Steve Simon, newly appointed head of the
Women's Tennis Association has been quoted as stating that Ms. Sharapova made
an "honest mistake". I have written countless times about the
inherent conflicts of interest that permeates tennis and I can't for the life
of me figure out why the head of the WTA would think that it is his place to comment
on an issue that is now outside the purview of the WTA.
If it is that he is siding with Ms.
Sharapova's team that this was an “honest mistake”, then it stands to reason
that the WTA needs to assume part of that blame. In this scenario, the only way
an “honest mistake” could have been made is if the information that was being
provided was not provided in a manner that is easily accessible. Ms.
Sharapova has indicated that it was difficult for her to obtain the relevant
information on meldonium because (1) she did not know the name by which WADA
had announced that it was a prohibited substance; (2) she did not click on the
link that WADA had sent out in an email on 22 December; (3) she did not receive
the 5 notifications; and (4) the WADA site is difficult to navigate.
Perhaps by the end of the day someone will point out the other excuses that
have been raised as a result of this "honest mistake". Frankly,
if you look at the list of excuses/reasons, one can be forgiven for thinking
that even if Ms. Sharapova had clicked on the link(s) she would not have been
able to figure out that the drug she had been taking for 10 years went by
another name, and we would have been in this same position once again.
Mr. Simon, you have only just assumed the head of the WTA. There are more
pressing issues on the women's Tour at this time (time to go make peace with tournament officials in Dubai and Doha for one). Surely, taking up the mantle
for someone who has the money and the connections to defend herself is outside
your purview and by extension outside the purview of the WTA? This is even worse than the talking points that the Tour
has issued to players regarding this incident.
There have been strenuous requests by persons associated
with Ms. Sharapova as well as members of the press who have asked that we should
wait until all the facts are known before casting judgment. However, it is quite hard for us tennis fans
and those of us who truly love this sport to think that both Mr. Simon and the Chief Executive Officer of HEAD are both privy to information unknown to the rest of us which makes
them take the position that this doping offence by Ms. Sharapova is an honest
mistake. If that is the case then there
is no need for us to have a hearing and we can just continue merrily on our
way
As the days pass and we learn more and more about mildronate (meldonium), some
players are speaking out and speaking out in a voice that will not be silenced.
Andy Murray, so called champion of feminist causes had this to say about the
issue.
"If you take a prescription drug[s] that you don't need but just
because it is legal is wrong. You are just doing it for the
performance-enhancing benefits," [emphasis mine]
Kiki Mladenovic, a French player also had some strong views
on the whole situation. Her response to questions posed to her by what I
presume is a French journalist (Yellow Ball Corner) are printed below in its
entirety (via YellowBallCorner)
"What's your reaction
concerning Maria Sharapova failed drug test?
She doesn't even deserve any comment...
As far as I'm concerned if I take a doliprane I think ten times about it
before, so thinking she took a serious drug for ten years and hearing some
saying she's not even sick... She has played with the rules, saying : it's not
on the list so I'm gonna take it. It's disappointing and I don't like this
mentality of trying to be the best by playing with the rules. That's low. She
can play with the words, get good lawyers but in the principle she's totally
wrong and all the players think the same thing, even the top players. And
anyway many are not that surprised, due to her daily attitude : she wasn't
liked.
Are you now doubting all your rivals?
No, cause that's the big positive news
inside all this drama: it proves the anti doping program is extremely efficient
and that even the best players, if it doesn't go as it should it gets out.
Would you be shocked if she wasn't
receiving a heaving sanction?
That's obvious she must be punished. That's very serious, and it's lasting
since ten years: who does she think we are ! When you see the efforts we do to
improve our endurance, our recovery, to deal with our emotions and the stress.
When you're stronger physically, you're also stronger mentally. So here you
wonder if the girl has done those efforts, and if she did she hasn't suffered
like us, she did it easily. So you start to think she's not a champion : she
cheated. Even if it wasn't forbidden before : it's the principle. Of course you
doubt and you think that she hasn't deserved all that she won and did. It's
dreadful, but it's good that it's finally out. I respected her for her career,
but not for the person that she is because she wasn't polite nor nice, let's be
honest. So with what's happening now, there won't remain a lot of people to
like her... I'm a bit harsh... But we all think and say here that she's a
cheater. She has no excuse, no defense. For me the debate is close and there's
no doubt."
During her press conference, Sharapova
was at pains to let us know that for the 10 years that she has been taking this
medicine (note the use of the word medicine and not drug) it was perfectly
legal to do so. While that is indeed the case, the fact of the matter is
that the various illnesses for which Sharapova was being treated could have
been treated with other drugs. Frankly speaking, if I am taking a drug for 10
years and the symptoms of my disease keeps coming back then I am definitely
going to get a second or third opinion.
But enough of whether Sharapova knew or did not know that her medicine had been
placed on WADA's list of prohibited substances, let us look at what has
happened since Monday's announcement.
The media blitz by the Sharapova team continues merrily
along with a Facebook posting by Ms. Sharapova to her fans attempting to set
the record straight regarding the number of notifications that she received
regarding meldonium. Frankly, it doesn't even matter how many notices she
received. The fact remains that as of 1 January 2016 she was in violation
of the doping rules and therefore she needs to face the consequences of
this. In her message to fans, Ms. Sharapova took the opportunity to
castigate her colleagues and the sport itself by stating that unlike others,
she did not cite an injury as the reason behind a doping violation. She
is, therefore, to be commended for her honesty and bravery.
On the eve of Ms.
Sharapova's letter to her fans, a former French minister for Sports (Mlle
Bachelot) came out and implied that Rafael Nadal had been hit with a doping
violation in 2012 and that his knee injury was fake. Of course, tennis
fans, not averse to playing connect the dots are of the view that Ms.
Sharapova's comment about not citing an injury for a doping violation was a dig
at Nadal.
It is time for us to let the ITF and WADA do its job.
It is either the case that tennis needs to continue to play ostrich with anti
doping or we just decide that it is going to be a free for all and everyone can
do whatever it is that they like. As a long time fan of the sport, I am
appalled at the comments from people who should know better. It would
seem as if tennis fans prefer their sport to remain the way it is, surrounded
by rumours and inneundo. God forbid that anyone should try and uncover
the darkness within. If anyone does, we will no doubt become like cycling
where we deny and deny and deny until the evidence stares us in the face and we
can deny no more.
Next week we will look at the views expressed by various
tennis players regarding anti-doping efforts.
Let us just say that the Spin Team is disappointed.
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