The next few weeks are of great importance for Yastremskaya’s future career.
The International Tennis Federation suspended Dayana Yastremskaya from the competition. This is not the end of a career, not a disaster, but the consequences for an athlete can be very serious. The final decision of the ITF must be made later after it receives an explanation from the tennis player. So, the next few weeks are going to be very important for Diana’s future career.
As for the facts themselves, now, of course, the ITF has published a minimum of information. Diane’s sample was taken on November 24 and tested at an accredited laboratory in Montreal. WADA has detected a metabolite of mesterolone in Yastremskaya’s analyses. The athlete was informed of the test results on December 22, warning of a future suspension. Dayana had the right to protest the decision (now also), but by this time she had not used it. From January 7th, the suspension is officially in effect at least until a final decision is made.
Not filing a protest and accepting the test results is the right choice, if there was an error, experts will find it later during the decisive hearing. Cooperating with WADA is also the right decision, all this is taken into account later. Unfortunately, giving exhaustive explanations and talking as frankly as possible with WADA officers is the maximum that Dayana can do in such a situation.
Mesterolone is on the banned substances list as an anabolic androgenic steroid. It can be used to improve physical or other athletic performance. It is excreted from the body through the kidneys in the form of metabolites (and is detected). The main detail is that it can be used by male athletes. For the female body, it is like doping ineffective, and to a certain extent even harmful. In Ukraine, it is available for free sale as part of a number of medicines.
Dayana emphasizes that she did not take any illegal drugs and the substance could have entered the body by accident. Based on the logic of using mesterolone, this really seems to be true. There was no point for a tennis player to use it. This, and several other facts speak in favor of Dayana.
The concentration of mesterolone in the sample was very low (according to her). The test was taken from an athlete out of competition. Moreover, Dayana had completed the season a few weeks earlier, and did not train and rest. Until the next competition – a few months. There can be no talk of any increase in sports form.
Yastremskaya has been regularly tested for doping over the past seasons. In 2019, there were more than two dozen such analyzes, during and outside the competition. The last one was at a tournament in Linz in early November, the results were negative. During her career, Dayana did not use illegal drugs, she never had any violations.
And now for the bad. Mesterolone is listed as a steroid on the list of prohibited substances and has no exceptions for the minimum dose in the body. So, a very small proportion of the substance, if it is found, it is still a violation.
The second point is paragraph 2.1.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program itself. The athlete himself is responsible for the entry of prohibited substances into his body. Intention, proven fault, negligence or ignorance – even if all this is not established, the tennis player still broke the rules. Responsibility will vary.
The easiest option for Dayana is if the sample is false, taken with violations, not sealed, etc. All charges will be dropped, Yastremskaya returns to the competition the next day. Still, this will not happen quickly – such issues can be resolved within a month or longer.
Source: Sportarena
My name is Adam Jackson and I am an author. I have been writing about Basketball games for over a decade now and am excited to share my knowledge with you all. Additionally, I am also interested in other sports and enjoy discussing them with others. Contact me if you want to discuss any Basketball-related topics!
