Novak Djokovic’s efforts to establish a “players union” through the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) have faced significant hurdles, but there is now a fresh development that could prove pivotal for its members. Despite regulatory challenges hindering the union’s formation, Djokovic and fellow ATP Tour player Vasek Pospisil, who co-founded the PTPA in 2020, have continued their efforts with a focus on enhancing player welfare both on and off the court.
The PTPA’s latest initiative, the Athlete Counsel & Equity (ACE) Program, has made a bold statement, offering financial support and expert legal guidance to professional tennis players facing complex legal challenges. According to the PTPA, the program ensures “equitable access to world-class legal expertise,” regardless of a player’s financial situation or personal resources, particularly when navigating the often-turbulent waters of tennis law.
One notable leader in this initiative is British player Tara Moore, who has taken the reins of the ACE Program. Moore’s appointment is striking given her controversial past. In May 2022, Moore faced a doping suspension after testing positive for nandrolone metabolites and Boldenone during a tournament in Bogota. Despite her protestations of innocence, she endured a long 19-month battle to return to the game, claiming that contaminated meat was the source of the banned substances in her system. In December, an independent tribunal cleared her of fault, though the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has challenged the ruling.
Moore, now 32, shared her personal experience with the ACE Program and its significance for the tennis community. “All players are entitled to due process—financial constraints or lack of resources should never stand in the way of their rights,” Moore said. She recounted the financial and emotional toll of her legal battle, highlighting how the PTPA’s legal support would have been invaluable. “The fight to prove my innocence left me with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and overwhelming emotional distress. My hope is that the ACE Program will ensure no player has to face such challenges alone, especially when it comes to integrity-related issues,” Moore explained. “Every player deserves the chance to defend themselves without the fear of financial or emotional ruin.”
This move comes at a time when the issue of doping in tennis is under fresh scrutiny. Last year, both Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek found themselves embroiled in doping-related controversies. Swiatek served a one-month suspension after the ITIA deemed that the banned substance in her system came from a contaminated medication. Similarly, Sinner’s positive test for a banned substance, clostebol, was linked to a cream used by a member of his team. The ITIA cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed the decision.
Tennis365 recently spoke to ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse, who provided clarity on the Sinner case. According to Moorhouse, the cream used by Sinner’s team member was not contaminated, and the anabolic steroid found in Sinner’s system was the result of this product being used improperly. Moorhouse explained that this case differs significantly from Swiatek’s, where the medication itself was contaminated. The process for determining sanctions, she clarified, varies depending on the specific circumstances of each case.
“If you test positive for a banned substance, the starting point for a possible sanction is typically four years,” Moorhouse told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview. “If you can prove the offense was not intentional, the sanction is reduced to two years. If you can demonstrate there was no fault, then there is no sanction.” She went on to explain that cases involving contaminated substances can result in sanctions ranging from a reprimand to two years.
Moorhouse also noted that the Sinner case has its own complexities due to the absence of contamination in the product used by his team member. “The product Sinner’s masseuse used was not contaminated. It was exactly what it said on the packaging, which makes the sanction range for this case fall between one and two years,” she explained.
Comparing the cases of Swiatek and Halep, Moorhouse highlighted the difference in the types of substances involved. While Swiatek’s case involved a regulated medication, Halep’s involved a collagen supplement, which the CAS tribunal found to be contaminated. As a result, Swiatek’s level of fault was deemed to be minimal, while Halep’s was considered higher.
With these high-profile cases ongoing, the ACE Program’s support will undoubtedly be crucial for players navigating the often murky waters of doping accusations and legal battles. As the tennis community waits for the resolution of these cases, the PTPA’s efforts to provide legal assistance to its members could prove to be a game-changer in ensuring that players are treated fairly, regardless of their financial standing.