Former top 20 player Alize Cornet is facing disciplinary action from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after missing a series of anti-doping tests.
The French player has missed three doping tests within the past year. Putting her at risk of being potentially suspended by the governing body of the sport. Under the ITF anti-doping programme, a player who missed a test three times within a year has broken the rules.
Cornet’s missed tests have been confirmed by the French Tennis Federation (FFT), who reported that she is currently under investigation. She was notified of the violation on January 11th, less than a week before the Australian Open.
“The French Tennis Federation, after being informed by the International Tennis Federation on January 11, takes note of the opening, against Alize Cornet, of a disciplinary procedure for a breach of the rules governing the anti-doping fight, in this case three non-appearances during random checks in the last twelve months,” said a FFT statement.
As a consequence of the development, the 28-year-old will miss France’s Fed Cup tie against Belgium next month. Instead Cornet will be preparing her defence at a disciplinary hearing. The date of which has not been disclosed to the public.
“In order to preserve the French Fed Cup team during the preparation of their first round (tie) against Belgium, which will take place in Vendée on February 10 and 11, and pending the decision of international disciplinary bodies, Pierre Cherret, Acting National Technical Director, in full agreement with Yannick Noah, the captain of the France team, we decided to let Alizé Cornet prepare her defence and therefore, not to retain her in the selection.” The FFT explained.
In 2015 Russian player Ivan Gakhov was suspended for 12 months after missing a trio of tests within the same time period as Cornet. The current world No.292 argued that he didn’t understand the correct procedure, but it was rejected by the ITF.
Cornet, who has been ranked as high as 11th in the world, has won five WTA titles so far in her career. At the Australian Open, she defeated 12th seed Julia Goerges in the second round before going out to Elise Mertens.
The world No.42 is yet to comment about the ongoing situation.
The definition of a missed test (via the ITF rule book)
“A failure by the Athlete to be available for resting at the location and time specified in the 60-minute time slot identified in his/her whereabouts filing for the day in question, in accordance with Article I.4 of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations.”
UPDATE: Alize Cornet has released a statement on Thursday in which she says that she has ‘valuable reasons’ for missing those tests.
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) January 24, 2018
