Sports News

Wickmayer suspended for doping violation

Published: Nov. 6, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Wickmayer takes on Bondarenko in quarter-final match at the US Open Tennis Championship in New York

BRUSSELS, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Belgian tennis player Yanina Wickmayer was given a one-year suspension from competition for failing to keep doping officials notified of her location.

Wickmayer said she would appeal the suspension but withdrew from the Tournament of Champions event in Indonesia. She was to have played Friday for a spot in the tournament semifinals. Her place in the tournament was taken by Vera Dushevina.

Wickmayer, ranked No. 18 in the world and a semifinalist at this year's U.S. Open, was told Thursday of the suspension by the Flemish Doping Tribunal.

Wickmayer denied any wrongdoing in a posting on her Web site. She allegedly was in violation of anti-doping regulations in which athletes much keep doping officials notified of their whereabouts.

The Flemish Doping Tribunal also suspended Xavier Malisse, ranked 95th in the world among men's tennis players, for one year for missing a doping test and not keeping officials aware of where he could be located.

Appeals of the Flemish Doping Tribunal's decisions would be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints




Additional News Stories
Crude oil prices start day off (12 min)
FDA extends the use of the statin Crestor (16 min)
Professor: Peterson can't get fair trial (20 min)
Afghan avalanche death toll rises (41 min)
Start of America's Cup delayed again (51 min)
UPI NewsTrack TopNews
Google takes on Facebook with new Buzz
fark
It's not a Super Bowl party until someone loses a testicle
Man dumps liquid stink bombs and sprays 'Fart Spray' in a Wal-Mart. Half the shoppers don't notice...
Quack medicine: Lame duck shows disabled boy how to walk
When the police spot you stealing a backhoe, don't try to escape by driving it away down the freeway....
47-year old teacher facing jail for going topless for teen (with non-topless pic)
Stephen Colbert: "Sarah Palin is a f*cking retard"