Tennis legend Serena Williams has spoken out against the anti-doping rules that she will be subject to during her comeback at Wimbledon. The 44-year-old, who will play her first singles match since the 2022 US Open on Tuesday, says that the rules are 'gruelling' and 'unprofessional'.
Williams, who has two children, claims that the rules have become more arduous during her four-year absence from the sport. She expressed frustration with the requirement to provide a daily one-hour testing window, saying that it makes it difficult for her to balance her tennis commitments with her family life.
Williams' comments come in the wake of former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova being handed a four-year ban for refusing a test outside of her allocated window. The ITIA has defended its anti-doping protocols, saying that they are in place to protect clean sport.
Williams' return to Wimbledon has been highly anticipated, and she will face Australia's Maya Joint on Centre Court on Tuesday. The 23-time grand slam champion has been subject to random checks at her home and daily whereabouts notices since last August.
Speaking to the media, Williams said that she had been hesitant to return to the sport due to the anti-doping rules. 'It's gruelling,' she said. 'They changed the rules now. I didn't know some of the rules. So apparently if you miss a test outside of your window, it still counts as missed. I'm like, I guess I can't go pick up my kids.'