Wickmayer flees Bali after doping notification

Wickmayer, a semifinalist at this year's U.S. Open, was handed a one-year ban on Thursday for failing to comply with doping regulations, a report on the Belgium Tennis Federation's Web site said.

Bali tournament director Kevin Livesey told Reuters that Wickmayer had left the island. She had been due to face Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues in her final group match on Friday, and was well-placed to reach the semifinals.

The world number 18 was suspended by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) after falling foul of the “whereabouts rule,” which states that players must notify their national doping agency of where they can be reached on a daily basis.

A WTA statement made available to Reuters on site at the tournament said: “Yanina Wickmayer has been informed of the decision of the Belgian National Anti-Doping Agency and consequently has voluntarily withdrawn from the tournament.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email