Serena Williams complained about being unfairly targeted by USADA after an officer requested a sample on June 14.GETTY IMAGES
Serena Williams became "embroiled in a controversy" over a doping test at her home in Florida, according to Simon Briggs of the London TELEGRAPH. According to a report on the website Deadspin, a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency doping control officer came to her house at 8:30am on June 14 but "went away without a sample." Rather than "complying with the request," Williams is understood to have complained that she is being "unfairly targeted" by USADA. She had already been tested five times by the organization in '18, "whereas most other American players had been tested once, or not at all." A spokesperson for Williams said, "Over her 23-year career in tennis, Serena Williams has never tested positive for any illegal substance despite being tested significantly more than other professional tennis players, both male and female -- in fact, four times more frequently than her peers. She has vocally supported, respected and complied with USADA testing throughout her entire career. While she willingly continues to submit to testing, there is absolutely no reason for this kind of invasive and targeted treatment." The debate would not have reached the public domain "were it not for the carelessness" of WTA CEO Steve Simon, who was "overheard discussing the case on his mobile phone" in a public area of San Francisco Int'l Airport (TELEGRAPH, 6/28).
