Yanina Wickmayer is still not eligible to compete despite a court
injunction in Belgium that suspended her one-year ban for violating
anti-doping rules.
Wickmayer, a U.S. Open semifinalist, and Xavier Malisse had
their doping bans suspended Monday, but International Tennis
Federation spokesman Nick Imison said Tuesday that both players are
still banned by the sport's governing body.
Both remain suspended "until such point that we receive any
further communication to suggest otherwise," Imison said.
Wickmayer and Malisse, a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2002, were
suspended by a Belgian court Nov. 5 for breaking World Anti-Doping
Agency rules by failing to report their whereabouts for drug
testing three times. The ITF imposed the bans worldwide.
Imison said the ITF is waiting to hear from the Belgian
national anti-doping agency before it can make a formal ruling of
their eligibility.
"Basically, it's up to (them) to liaise with the Belgian
court and make its decision based on that and inform us," Imison
said. "As of last night, we hadn't received any official
correspondence at all."
The Belgium anti-doping agency did immediately return a call
seeking comment.
After Monday's ruling in Brussels, Wickmayer was offered a
wildcard to play at the ASB Classic, a tournament in New Zealand
that serves as a warmup for the Australian Open. She is also hoping
the ruling will get her another wildcard for the season's first
Grand Slam tournament.
The next step would be to be able to use those wildcards and
compete.
"At this precise moment, she is ineligible to play," Imison
said, adding it was difficult to say when an official decision
would be made.
"From our point of view, procedures are clear, and that if a
decision is made by a national anti-doping authority, then these
are sent though to us and then the ITF needs to make sure proper
procedure has been followed," Imison said. "At this stage, all we
can say is that we await to receive the kind of relevant
documentation and ruling from Belgium."
The 20-year-old Wickmayer claims she was not properly
informed of the online reporting requirements for drug-testing that
led to her ban.
Wickmayer and Malisse have already asked the Court of
Arbitration for Sport to overturn the bans. A ruling is expected in
the next three months.
