After an unannounced, off-season drug tested occurred on June 14th at Serena’s house in Florida, it was revealed that Serena Williams is being tested for drugs more than other American athletes. In June alone, she was tested five times during off-season. According to Deadspin, that is more than twice of the top women tennis players and more than the top American male athletes. Unfortunately, she thought this was normal. The only reason this came to light was after a drug testing officer came to her house unannounced while she was out. The officer was let into her house and refused to leave until she was tested.
Serena called the CEO of the USDA, Steve Simon to complain about the incident. She was cleared and was announced to be in “good standing” with the USDA. But the statements that were made by the representatives of the USDA left a sour taste in my mouth. Her frequent drug testing is by the recommendation and caution of the USDA based on “available resources, performance information, ranking data, sport and athlete specific analysis, biological and longitudinal analysis, injury information, training periods, the competition calendar, intelligence received concerning possible doping practices and research on doping trends.” I don’t see any of those reasons being a cause for concern of Serna Williams, yet she was tested five times in June.
This sadly is does not come as a surprise to me. Serena Williams is a seven times Wimbledon champion. She is the best tennis player in the world and top competitor I believe they are targeting Serena Williams unfairly. Six months after having her baby and returning to tennis for the Fed Cup, she was tested twice in one week. Hopefully, as she continues to win titles without the assistance of any substances, she will not be viewed as someone who needs to be tested as often and just someone good enough to win titles by her own merit.
