British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has revealed her significant anxiety about potentially failing a drug test. Her concerns are not limited to accidentally taking contaminated medication but also include the frightening possibility of being deliberately targeted, such as having something added to her drink while dining out.
Raducanu`s candid remarks come amidst recent high-profile anti-doping cases in tennis. Jannik Sinner is returning to competition at this week`s Italian Open in Rome after serving a three-month doping ban, a sanction agreed upon with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials.
The current world number one tested positive twice for the prohibited anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024. Sinner, however, strongly denied any intentional effort to enhance his performance.
The 23-year-old Italian explained that the positive results were a result of accidental contamination from a steroid cream used by his physiotherapist, who was later fired. The cream was applied to the therapist`s hands before he treated Sinner.
An independent tribunal initially cleared Sinner, the reigning champion of the Australian and US Opens, concluding that he bore “no fault or negligence” in the matter.
Separately, five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, also 23, accepted a one-month suspension during the off-season. This followed her positive test for trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample taken in August 2024.
Anti-doping authorities accepted Swiatek`s explanation that her positive result was due to contamination of a regulated non-prescription melatonin supplement.
Raducanu, 22, expressed her extreme caution regarding substances. “I don`t want to take anything even if the doctors are saying you should take this – just out of risk of contamination,” she stated.
She elaborated on the difficulty of ensuring safety: “Even if it`s not prohibited on the anti-doping list, you don`t know if it`s contaminated by another product. It can show a green tick, but if it`s contaminated you will still get screwed over.”
Her worries extend beyond medication to everyday situations like eating out. “We could go to a restaurant and someone could put something in our drink,” she said. “It’s really hard, especially if you are noticeable and the waiter recognises you.”
She concluded on this point, admitting, “It’s something I do worry about – it’s nervous every time.”
Currently ranked World No. 49, Raducanu is set to compete in the first round of the Italian Open on Wednesday against a qualifier. The winner will advance to face Russian 21st seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
With Wimbledon just eight weeks away, Raducanu feels positive about her current coaching setup for now, but acknowledges she will need to “figure another solution out” towards the end of the year.
She indicated a desire for a more enduring partnership, specifically mentioning Mark Petchey, a trusted individual who also works as a commentator.
Jane O’Donoghue, a friend and former LTA national women’s coach, is also providing assistance, although she is currently on a sabbatical from her full-time job in finance.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Raducanu commented on the arrangement: “It`s been working pretty well.”
“Mark is balancing his commentary work and helping me as much as he can around that. Hopefully, the times align so he can be with me during matches,” she explained.
“That’s why Jane is here for when he’s not able to make it to a session. While she’s not working it’s nice to have her as much as possible, but she will go back to work and then I need to figure another solution out.”
Raducanu also detailed her strategic focus for the ongoing clay court season. “I want to use this period of the clay season to try and work on certain things in my game that I think are going to help me bridge the gap to the next level,” she stated.
Describing her tactical aims, she added, “I want to take more balls on, I want to be more aggressive in certain points – I want to structure the points more on my terms.”
She acknowledged the potential risks of this approach: “I know I may make more errors doing that, but I’m willing to go through that.”
