Players will need to submit more detailed anti-doping whereabouts information from January 2027 as the ITIA has announced revisions to its testing system.
In the new World Anti-Doping Code, those in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) will be required to make themselves available for testing for a minimum period of 60 minutes each day – including at a tournament.
Tennis had previously been given an exemption due to the diversity of the players’ schedules.
But, ITIA will look to cut the size of its RTP, with approximately 80 per cent of current members then being part of an enlarged testing pool, that would not have a daily time slot.
“Competitors who stay in the lower RTP will have to submit a 60-minute timeslot for each day, as do athletes in all in and out of competition WADA-compliant sports,” said ITIA.
The player will learn in November the classification for each pool, but personal classifications will be kept confidential.
Furthermore, the changes will provide increased safeguards for athletes able to prove their positive sample was due to contamination related to food, drink, medication, another person or exposure to the environment.
Furthemore, some recreational drug violations not connected to sporting performance could be subject to sanctions that involve rehabilitative measures.
Testing numbers and frequency are expected to stay largely unchanged.
Players remain subject to providing samples if directed by doping control officers. Pool status does not exempt any player. An unsuccessful sample test can lead to a suspension of up to four years.
