Serena Williams is no stranger to success, and with her prolific accomplishments comes increased attention. However, the public’s scrutiny often comes at a cost. According to an article released by Deadspin, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency paid Williams’ home an unannounced visit on June 14 for what would have been her sixth drug test of the year.
In the midst of an incredible comeback after giving birth to a baby girl in September, Williams earned the No. 25 seed at Wimbledon, where she is a seven-time champion. All England Club’s decision to seed Williams broke age-old rules regarding maternity leave, a giant leap forward for women returning to the sport after pregnancy.
Williams has faced her fair-share of adversity throughout her comeback, most recently having to pull out of the French Open due to a hip injury. The 23-time Grand Slam champion currently holds the 183rd world ranking, yet she has been drug tested far more times than her competition, who rank much higher in the standings.
Recently, Williams took to Twitter to voice her frustrations about the excessive drug testing. On May 21, she tweeted that she was tested two times over the course of a single week. At the time, she was ranked 454th in the world, which leads us to the question: How much is too much?
A spokeswoman for Williams told website Deadspin: “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.
Of course, we want our champions to win fair and square. Serena has proved time and time again that she respects the rules. Throughout her 23-year career, she has never tested positive for an illegal substance and has consistently advocated for USADA testing. Nonetheless, the disproportionate testing raises the questions of targeted testing.
At the most recent visit, the USADA official allegedly arrived at 8:30 a.m. to test Williams. Upon learning that Williams was not home, the official initially insisted on waiting until she returned, but eventually agreed to leave.
Why is it that success comes with a price for successful female athletes like Serena Williams? Why are some unable to accept that hard work, determination, and talent alone can vault an athlete to victory? Certainly, Williams has proved countless times that she has earned every single one of her titles.
“Serena Williams is a champion for female athletes across the globe,” said WTCA CEO Sarah Stone. “Not only is she dominant on the court, but she exudes strength and confidence in everything that she does. Nonetheless, the some would say excessive testing, while unfortunate, will never diminish all that she has accomplished.”
It is time for us to appreciate achievement without unnecessary investigation. Williams is one of the greatest players to ever take the court, and her impact on the game is something to be celebrated, not scrutinized. The breaking of barriers is familiar territory for Williams, and with any luck, fair testing policies are on the horizon.