Andy Murray says the ATP tour should consider investing more money in anti-doping efforts, and that the players should consider giving over some of their prize money to help do so.
“A lot of it, unfortunately, comes down to money,” Murray told reporters yesterday. “Maybe it’s down to the ATP, to invest some of our own money to make sure we get more testing done. A lot of it unfortunately comes down to money and maybe it’s down to our governing bodies and the ATP to invest some of our own money into WADA [the World Anti-Doping Agency] and make sure we get more testing done. If it means taking some of the money out of the players’ earnings then that’s what we have to do.”
Murray added that he believes the doctor at the center of the alleged doping ring in the “Operation Puerto” trial in Spain, Eufemiano Fuentes, should be able to name athletes he assisted, including tennis players. Last week a judge denied Fuentes permission to reveal the names of his clients outside of cycling, but the trial is still ongoing.
“I think it’s essential that the names of whoever was involved with him come out,” Murray said. “All sports—not just tennis—need to look very closely at this stuff because I think a lot has been learned from what’s happened with the Lance Armstrong situation and you don’t want that happening ever again. And I don’t want that happening for my sport because it would be terrible.”
Murray added that the reason he declined to play Davis Cup for Great Britian against Russia in April is that he needs to work on his clay-court game. “I believe I have a chance of winning the French Open, but to do that I need to prepare and use every single day as best as I can.”