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WOW! Brengle Sues WTA & ITF Over Drug Testing

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WOW! Brengle Sues WTA & ITF Over Drug Testing

Post by Grossefavourite » Apr Tue 10, 2018 1:39 pm

American Madison Brengle is suing the Women's Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation for injuries she alleges were caused by repeated anti-doping tests.

A medical condition that meant Brengle, 28, reacted badly to needle injections was ignored, says her lawyer.

Brengle has permanent swelling and weakness in her serving arm and hand and had to withdraw from tournaments.

The world number 83 is likely to seek more than $10m (£7m) in damages.

"Tennis authorities ignored evidence of her professionally-diagnosed condition and refused to provide alternative testing or a medical accommodation," said lawyer Peter Ginsberg.

Brengle, who has won over $2.1m (£1.5m) in prize money, said: "I am bringing this action in an effort to force those who control the sport I love to understand that players are not commodities and should be treated with respect and dignity.

"The unbridled authority of officials to subject players to the kind of abuse I suffered cannot be tolerated; players must have a say in matters involving our health and safety."

BBC Sport has contacted both the WTA and ITF for comment.

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Post by Ace2Ace » Apr Tue 10, 2018 3:24 pm

When this is over, there will be a new rule about those testings.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#If a player cannot tolerate needles, then she can't compete in WTA until new means of testing for drugs are implemented by WADA. Otherwise, many will use this as a reason to avoid the drug testing.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#Pretty simple in my book.
Last edited by Ace2Ace on Apr Tue 10, 2018 7:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post by Pyotr » Apr Tue 10, 2018 5:23 pm

Not enough information here yet, but if the "professionally-diagnosed" condition is something #ed_op#br#ed_cl#recognized in general by the medical boards, then the question is if they refused to provide #ed_op#br#ed_cl#alternative testing was the refusal because they could not or because they simply didn't want to? #ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#Many more questions to be asked and answers needed.
Last edited by Pyotr on Apr Tue 10, 2018 5:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post by Ace2Ace » Apr Tue 10, 2018 7:25 pm

Some tests can only be done today by drawing blood. Players have to agree to the process or they should go find another way to make a living.

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Post by Pyotr » Apr Tue 10, 2018 7:49 pm

The whole point here should be to see everything clearly. Thus an investigation to see if#ed_op#br#ed_cl#Brengle's claim holds any water and to see if the WTA/ITF behaved in anyway outside#ed_op#br#ed_cl#of the parameters of their own rules or out of line with what is deemed to be common #ed_op#br#ed_cl#practice when it comes to handling of players.#ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#Brengle's claim of having provided evidence and believing alternative testing/medical accommodation #ed_op#br#ed_cl#could have been supplied is interesting. Interesting in that it suggests that such things could have been #ed_op#br#ed_cl#supplied. It's why I asked if the WTA/ITF couldn't have supplied the alternative because such ability #ed_op#br#ed_cl#of testing for all they test for could  not be applied in Brengle's case or that it could have, but the #ed_op#br#ed_cl#WTA/ITF simply didn't want to do it. #ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#Peter Ginsberg(Brengle's lawyer):#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
“She can give blood. She just can’t tolerate the needle in her vein. She could give blood via a pin prick in her finger. She will submit to a urinalysis,” Ginsberg said. “She’s not trying to avoid being tested. She’s trying to avoid having a needle being stuck in her veins.”
#ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#I await to see the WTA/ITF's response.

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Post by Ace2Ace » Apr Tue 10, 2018 8:58 pm

WTA, ITF, are private entities.
They'll tell the potential contractors (the players) what method they use to conduct their testing. If a player can't accept that method, she cannot play their tournaments until they implement new methods.
They should and will make that clear, as a result of this matter.

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Post by Grossefavourite » Apr Tue 10, 2018 9:28 pm

Won't a prick provide less blood to test reliably and to save for future tests? Just asking.
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Post by Grossefavourite » Apr Tue 10, 2018 9:35 pm

American professional tennis player Madison Brengle sued the WTA and International Tennis Federation in Florida state court on Monday, seeking unspecified damages for "physical and emotional consequences" related to anti-doping blood tests that involve inserting a needle into a vein.

"She is not disputing that there should be an anti-doping program. She does not dispute that players should be available to have tests administered. But it has to be done in a medically appropriate manner," Brengle's lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, said in a telephone interview after the suit was filed.

"And it has to be done in a way which takes into consideration not only those who manage professional tennis, but also those who play tennis," Ginsberg said. "It's a system totally dominated by the authorities, without any input from the players and without any consideration for the players."
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The defendants also include the ITF's Stuart Miller; International Doping Tests and Management (IDTM), a Swedish company that administers drug tests for the ITF; and IDTM doping control officer John Snowball.

Spokespeople for the WTA and ITF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit says the defendants knew and ignored that Brengle "suffers from a rare medically diagnosed physical condition which results in both temporary and permanent physical injury, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering from having a needle inserted into her vein."

It adds: "Brengle no longer has normal strength in her arm and endures post-trauma injuries that cause both physical and emotional damage."

The suit cites Wimbledon in 2009, and the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in 2016 as tournaments where the testing was problematic.

Brengle also says her reaction to the testing has caused her to miss tournaments.

"She can give blood. She just can't tolerate the needle in her vein. She could give blood via a pin prick in her finger. She will submit to a urinalysis," Ginsberg said. "She's not trying to avoid being tested. She's trying to avoid having a needle being stuck in her veins."

Brengle, who turned 28 this month, was ranked as high as 35th in singles and is currently 83rd.

Her biggest career victory came over Serena Williams at Auckland, New Zealand, in January 2017. Brengle also beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova at the All England Club last year.

Born in Delaware and now based in Florida, Brengle has earned more than $2 million in career prize money.
Last edited by Grossefavourite on Apr Fri 13, 2018 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mytiwtiw

Post by Mytiwtiw » Apr Tue 10, 2018 11:19 pm

Brengle should have sue Serena. I’ll support her all the way

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Post by Grossefavourite » Apr Wed 11, 2018 2:15 pm

I get the feeling she believes a sample she gave might come back incriminating.

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