Tim Henman is reserving judgment on the topic of Maria Sharapova’s failed drug test until further information is revealed but says the one positive by-product of the Russian’s debacle is that it proves that the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) actually works.
Sharapova announced last Monday that she has tested positive for Meldonium at the Australian Open on January 26 and the five-time major champion is currently provisionally suspended until she learns her fate from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Meldonium was added to WADA’s list of prohibited substances on January 1, 2016 after evidence was found that athletes were using it to enhance their performance, and Sharapova said she had been taking the drug for health reasons for 10 years and did not realise it had been banned.
Henman, who is in Abu Dhabi to take part in the Tennis at the Beach event on Saadiyat Island on Saturday, is reluctant to weigh in on Sharapova’s situation although he admits the sport has not been put in a positive light as of late.
The four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist enjoying the scenic ocean views in Abu Dhabi.
“I think it was a huge shock for everybody. With something like this, we have to wait and really understand the facts. For someone as professional as she is, it’s a huge surprise to see such a mistake,” Henman told Sport360 at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers on Friday.
“She’s put her hands up and said she’s made a mistake. I’d like to reserve judgment really until we understand all the facts and we hear what the ITF have got to say.
“It hasn’t been a good time for tennis recently, we’ve had issues regarding match-fixing and now something like this.”
The TADP has come under fire in recent years with players like Roger Federer and Andy Murray calling for more testing in order to keep the sport clean.
Murray said he’s only been tested twice so far this season which he believes “is not enough”.
Henman however feels the fact that Sharapova has failed a test is an indication that the programme is effective.
“I think we’ve always got to be looking to keep the number of tests very very high. It’s not a good news story, but it does show that if you’re going to take a prohibited substance, you’re going to get caught,” said the 41-year-old Brit.
“So it does show that the anti-doping programme works. We’ve always got to invest in that because we’ve got to make sure that we have a clean sport.”
Henman said he always made sure he kept up to speed on what substances were legal to ingest and that he surrounded himself with people who had lots of experience in the field of sports medicine. The ex-world No4 insists it is the player’s responsibility to know what goes into their own body and explains that in his case, taking the least supplements possible was the best way to avoid any mishaps.
“The reality is I took very few supplements,” said Henman. “I had to take anti-inflammatories for my shoulder and my back but besides that, I was always trying to avoid taking supplements because that’s going to minimise any possibility of contamination or something.”
Strong views
Murray was less reserved in his thoughts on Sharapova’s situation and believes she should be suspended. He also criticised his own sponsors, Head, who released a statement in support of the Russian and said they will be extending her contract.
“It’s not up to me to decide the punishment, but if you take performance-enhancing drugs and you fail a drug test then you should be suspended,” Murray said at Indian Wells on Thursday.
“I think it’s a strange stance (from Head) given everything that’s happened the last few days. I don’t really know what else to say on that, but that’s not something I believe. I think at this stage it’s important really to get hold of the facts and let things play out, like more information coming out before making a decision to extend the contract like that, in my view. I personally wouldn’t have responded like that.”
Around 60 athletes in different sports have tested positive for Meldonium since it has become prohibited and Murray says he finds it unethical to take a drug just for performance, even it was legal up until the end of last year.
“I think taking a prescription drug that you don’t necessarily need, but just because it’s legal, that’s wrong, clearly. That’s wrong. If you’re taking a prescription drug and you’re not using it for what that drug was meant for, then you don’t need it, so you’re just using it for the performance enhancing benefits that drug is giving you. And I don’t think that that’s right,” said the world No2.
Henman and Murray are close friends off the court.
British hero
Meanwhile, Henman also shared his thoughts on Murray, who is playing his first ATP tournament since he became a father, and the role the Scot has played in leading Great Britain to Davis Cup glory.
Murray dug deep to fend off Kei Nishikori in five sets and take GB past Japan last weekend and the Brits now have a mouth-watering Davis Cup quarter-final tie against Serbia in July.
“You sort of look at the team spirit led by Andy, I think they believe that they could do it again,” said Henman.
“I think the schedule this year in 2016 being an Olympic year is going to be very, very difficult. We’ll just have to wait and see how he handles that. But I take my hat off to him with his commitment and his leadership with regards to Davis Cup.”
Kyle Edmund is one British up-and-comer who is looking to follow in Murray’s footsteps and at 82 in the world, is the nation’s No3 player (No2 for Davis Cup since Aljaz Bedene remains ineligible).
Edmund has a close relationship with Murray, having done several training camps with the world No2, and Henman predicts a bright future for the 21-year-old.
“He’s doing very well, he’s going to be around for a long time,” said Henman of Edmund.
“He’s got a big game, he’s a good athlete and he’s got great attitude. I definitely like to see him top-50 by the end of the year and keep building on that.
“And I think that’s where Andy plays a really important role in Kyle’s development because he’s the ideal role model. And I think with the trainings they’ve done together in the offseasons in Miami (and Dubai) and just for Kyle to have Andy on the tour is very helpful.”
#ThrowbackThursday: @andy_murray makes his #IndianWells debut 10 years ago in 2006 reaching the second round! pic.twitter.com/R0JLgfUj70
— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) March 10, 2016
‘Fatherhood will help’
Murray, seeking his first Indian Wells title this week, has not been able to add to his grand slam tally since he won his second major at Wimbledon in 2013.
The 28-year-old fell to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final last January – his 11th loss to the Serb in their last 12 meetings – and the gap between him and the world No1 seems to be getting bigger and bigger. But Henman feels fatherhood can help Murray bridge that gap.
“Novak’s consistency in the big tournaments over the last couple of years has been incredible. So there’s no doubt that Novak is the player to beat and is the clear No1. But you know you only have to beat him on one day, it’s the toughest challenge right now but Andy has been playing very very well,” said Henman.
“Andy is still improving and is still playing great tennis. And I think now he’s a father, that would give him good balance as well, it would give him good perspective for his tennis. So he’s got a lot of exciting times ahead of him.”
Murray opens his Indian Wells campaign today against Spaniard Marcel Granollers.
Tim Henman joins Xavier Malisse, Henri Leconte and Younes El Aynaoui in the invitation-only Tennis at the Beach event that will take place on Saturday March 12 at Saadiyat Beach Club.
