Doping fears prevented former US Open champion Emma Raducanu from treating insect bites on the eve of the Australian Open, she said, with players increasingly wary about ingesting contaminated substances.
The British player was speaking in the wake of high-profile doping cases involving Iga Swiatak and Jannik Sinner.
“I would say all of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take on board, what we use,” the 22-year-old said, recalling an incident on Friday.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“I got really badly bitten by, I don’t know what, like ants, mosquitoes, something. I’m allergic, I guess,” she added.
The bites “flared up and swelled up really a lot. Someone was giving me this antiseptic spray, natural, to try to ease the bites, she said. “I didn’t want to take it. I didn’t want to spray it. I was, like: ‘I’m just going to tough it out because I don’t want to risk it.’”
Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek’s reputation was rocked last year when it was revealed she tested positive for a banned heart medication.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the violation was not intentional and the Polish star escaped with a one-month sanction.
Her case followed defending Australian Open champion Sinner twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
He was also exonerated by the ITIA, which accepted his explanation that the drug entered his system when his physio used a spray containing it to treat a cut.
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu of China yesterday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, while Naomi Osaka retired from the women’s singles final with an abdominal injury. Second seeds Wu and Jiang defeated Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US 6-3, 6-4 on ASB Tennis Centre’s Stadium Court in 1 hour, 5 minutes. The WTA 250 victory was 25-year-old Wu’s second WTA Tour title, after winning the 2023 Hua Hin Championships in Thailand with Taiwanese partner Chan Hao-ching. Later that year, Wu and Taiwan’s Hsu Yu-hsiou won the mixed doubles gold at the World
The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play on Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena last night. “Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community,” the Kings said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard working first responders who are diligently working to contain the fire and protect our community. We appreciate the league’s support in keeping our
RED HOT: Gauff, who did not drop a set in five singles matches, heads into the Australian Open as world No. 3 and unbeaten in singles since losing to Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan Coco Gauff yesterday roared past Iga Swiatek to inspire the US before Taylor Fritz sealed the United Cup title with victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in Sydney. Gauff opened with a statement 6-4, 6-4 win over Swiatek in 1 hour, 51 minutes of hard-hitting tennis to fire a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open. Big-serving Fritz then battled through against Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) to spark wild celebrations as the Americans won the mixed-teams cup for the second time in three years after winning the inaugural event in 2023. For Poland it meant falling at the final hurdle again
EFL SEMI: Arsenal’s lack of a lethal striker like Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak was a key factor, as the Gunners had the most chances, but failed to make them count Newcastle United on Tuesday took a giant stride toward the EFL Cup final, with goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon earning a 2-0 semi-final, first-leg lead against Arsenal. The Magpies have never previously won the competition and have had to wait since 1969 to celebrate any major trophy. However, in Isak they have the form striker in England and he rifled home the opener then helped tee up the second for Gordon. Arsenal have a mountain to climb with the sides to meet for the second leg on Feb. 5 if they are to progress to meet either Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool
RSS