ROTTERDAM: World number two Roger Federer has called for the introduction of biological passports in tennis similar to those used in cycling to detect possible doping.
“A blood passport will be necessary as some substances can’t be discovered right now but might in the future, and that risk of discovery can chase cheaters away,” the 31-year-old Swiss said yesterday at the World Indoor Tournament in Rotterdam.
“But there also should be more blood tests and out of competition controls in tennis,” he added.
According to figures on the International Tennis Federation website (www.itftennis.com), sport’s governing body carried out only 21 out-of-competition blood tests in the professional game in 2011.
“I didn’t get tested on blood after the Australian Open and I told the responsible people over there that it was a big surprise for me,” said Federer, who lost to Briton Andy Murray. REUTERS
