It seems that every sport has its drug of choice. For tennis, which is stereotyped as a wealthy sport, drug problems root from recreational drugs use. In this year’s French Open, the absence of Richard Gasquet is no longer a surprise. The former top-10 player and 2007 Wimbledon semifinalist was tested for cocaine during a tournament in Miami and was sanctioned of up to a two-year ban. Gasquet’s fate is the same as Martina Hingis as she was also slapped with a two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine use at Wimbledon on December 2007. Hingis retired two years ago after the controversy.

In an interview with present and previous tennis players and officials, it reveals that it is a sport largely free of performance enhancing drugs but more associated with partying drugs. Andy Roddick of USA said that it is obvious that they have “access to pretty much everything we want.” “If you’re breaking down age demographics, the number of positive tests (both for cocaine and marijuana) is shockingly low, especially in comparison to the general public.” But the International Tennis Federation, which administers the anti-doping program of tennis and sticks to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, less than 1% of the tests conducted starting from 1995 have turned up with cocaine or cannabis. The said program has averaged an approximate of 1,500-2,000 tests for men and women each year for the last decade.

14 or about a third out of the 46 drug infractions have resulted from cocaine or cannabis. “It has been a little bit of an issue,” says Tommy Hass of Germany. “Some people are obviously using some kinds of drugs.” However, the debate today is whether the penalty is in congruity with the crime.

Players who are caught using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs face the same two-year ban punishment as those using cocaine or cannabis. “It’s a lot easier having someone come back into the locker room that is basically guilty of a bad lapse in judgment than someone who is knowingly cheating to try to get ahead,” Roddick says. “(Cocaine and marijuana) should be on the list, but they should have a lower penalty. I don’t think Gasquet should be penalized two years. That can ruin a career.”

Majority of the players say that recreational drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol have uncertain performance-enhancing qualities as compared with steroids and stimulants. Many also believed that recreational drugs can be performance detracting.

However, there have been debates on the legalization of performance-enhancing drugs on sports. Many athletes have been involved in steroid-related controversies. Authorities have been firm and strict on their drug testing policies but still, doubts remain as to the effectiveness of these tests and the fairness of some bans to athletes. Performance-enhancing drugs include steroids, male hormone, testosterone, human-growth hormones and other drugs that are used to bulk up muscles during trainings. These drugs are also used to improve performance in a competition. Most of these performance-enhancing drugs also have medical uses and are legally prescribed in certain non-athletic contexts.

Tennis has been dragged with drug-related controversies. “It’s a social problem more than a tennis problem,” says Gilbert Ysern, president of the French Tennis Federation. Because of this, there have been questions whether tennis should be under the strict WADA code, together with other Olympic sports. Most agree that drug testing should continue as it is beneficial to both the players and the image of the game whether it is for recreational drugs or performance enhancing drugs.

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