The imperious Roger Federer addressed the media at the Miami Open yesterday and naturally fielded questions about Maria Sharapova and her meldonium habit. Federer did what is it customary now - he was roundly critical of dopers in his sport while stating that, of course, there is no doping crisis in tennis.
In doing so, Federer discussed his own experiences with tennis's anti-doping regimes. As it turns out they aren't very rigid.
“I’ve been in Dubai for 10 years now and I’ve been tested once in 10 years – that’s not OK for me."
Federer added that he faces much more regular testing when he's in his native Switzerland. Unfortunately, given the vast wealth of modern athletes and the rise of supercities, professional tennis players, and indeed professional athletes, are far more likely to live in Dubai than Switzerland.
What other tennis players have residence in Dubai, you ask? Only Maria Sharapova.
For what it's worth, Federer did call for some worthy changes to drugtesting regimes.
"I still believe we should keep blood samples for 10 years, so athletes and tennis players know that’s the case, that you could get punished retroactively. I’m a big believer in that."
