Andy Murray has called for tennis authorities to crack down on drug use in the sport, with increased testing.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the BNP Paribas Paris Masters, Murray was keen to voice his support for random drug tests, “The out-of-competition stuff could probably get better. When we’re in December, when people are training and setting their bases, it would be good to do more.”
The Scot told reporters that he welcomed a surprise test at the weekend and would like more professional tennis players to embrace them during their winter training.
Murray’s hasn’t always been so supportive of such tests; early in his career he was very outspoken about the early morning ‘intrusion’ of testers at his home. The world number three admitted that the recent evidence against Lance Armstrong has changed his view on testing.
“It’s obviously completely necessary when you hear things like about Armstrong. It’s a shame for their sport but how they managed to get away with it was incredible, for so long.”
The Olympic gold medalist explained that he doesn’t want his sport tainted like cycling and that random, thorough testing is the only way to ensure this.
‘The one thing I would say with a sport like cycling is it’s purely physical, there’s very little skill involved… whereas with tennis you can’t learn the skill by taking a drug.”
Andy Murray will play Paul-Henri Mathieu in his opening match of the Paris Masters before finishing his season with the ATP World Tour Finals in London next week.
By Georgia Sorsky
Image courtesy of globalite via fotopedia
