[Zamboni]

In BN/DeStem, a local newspaper in the Netherlands, there was today an article about drugs in tennis. First it summed up what we already knew: all the fuss of the last weeks.

But then it had some quotes from John van Lottum. He is known as a guy who's really anti-drugs, he even turned his back to Chela 2 years ago after a match when Chela was trying to make his way back up after his suspension.

Van Lottum said: "I wouldn't be surprised if 50% of the top100 uses. The risk you get caught is really small, if you do it smart. And if it happens you get a small suspension. And the tennisworld stays nice for you. Juan-Ignacio Chela is crowd puller in Amersfoort, Guillermo Coria got a wildcard in Monte Carlo. And Adidas signed Chela. A big shame. These guys should be on the front page with a big picture, to make clear they don't play it fair.

Colleagues who were around the 60th place in the rankings, like me, dissapeared a couple of months from the circuit. They came back with a complete different body. "

He also names names: "I have big questionmarks at Guillermo Canas. I played against him on hardcourt, and after a set he was totally tired. He always had small injuries and got fast cramp. Now he is the fittest player in the circuit after Lleyton Hewitt and he makes the 4oth place in the rankings. How is that possible? Mariano Puerta is another example. He's number 300 of theworld, is gone for a while. Comes back and makes it #30. His raking gets worse, he's away for a while and gets to #30 again. His father is the guy who gave the drugs to Chela. Well, then one and one is two, right?"

Paal Haarhuis also has something to say: "Until a year or 5 ago, I thought tennis was kinda clean of drugs. But at one moment you hear too much around you. About players who don't use for a while, cos there are all kind of side-effects. Due to these stories I got aware that also a tennisplayer can benefit from certain stuff.

Then there's a story about Courier in the article, which says that when Courier suggested that the European players (he meant especially the Spanish claycourters) used drugs, the ATP told him that he could better quit himself, cos he would get caught at a drugstest.

If you speak Dutch, you can check the article at
article

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I see nothing wrong with making accusations, but I do see something wrong with publically speculating when you have no evidence.

When did Courier make those claims? Anyone know about those?

 

[tennischick]

i wish they would stop picking on the Argentines. if there is drug use out there i'm sure the Americans are as guilty as anyone!

 

[Zamboni]

Rebbeca, the article said Courier said it during AO '99

 

[Daniel]

pfffff @ the article

Argentines always get accused of that

 

[Pea]

PFFF! Look at agassi!

 

[Dissident]

 

[Lucas Arg]

Van Lottum sucks he is a sore loser:fiery:

Go Argentineans

 

[Becool]

I'm sure he is enving Guillermo's skills..

When he said that he is the second fittest player behind Lleyton, so why he doesnt accuse Lleyton also? Cause he is number one player??

 

[kazblah]

stop picking on the argentineans.

 

[irma]

at least he gives names but still what's his prove?

 

[Pea]

I don't understand why no one has the guts to accuse agassi of any doping. I mean he comes from hardly being a grand slam contender anymore to winning the French in 1999 with his "fitness regime". Please, tooo suspicious! No wonder he didn't like to talk about his exercises and how he "got" sooo fit.

 

[Catriel]

What a stupid

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I forgot all about Courier targetting the Spaniards.

I knew that I had a good reason that I didn't like him - that must have been it.

 

[Hurley]

Wouldn't we know? Isn't there testing?

If there isn't a deep testing program, then the ATP and ITF are idiots. And if there is, then JVL shouldn't be making any comments.

 

[claudine140]

I see nothing wrong with making accusations, but I do see something wrong with publically speculating when you have no evidence.

When did Courier make those claims? Anyone know about those?

it was just before he retired when he said those things

 

[Nimi]

What an idiot :fiery:

 

[Andromeda]

Canas should sue his ass for all he's got for making such defamatory remarks.

 

[joanbalcells]

perhaos canas doesn't want to raise the issue for various reasons e.g. (a) yes he has been known to dabble or (b) not giving more life to these stories by getting embroiled.

i often think that it's unlikely for somebody to be willing to go on record as naming names unless they are absolutely certain.

as fans, we're not in a position to know. as a business, the atp are unlikely to make moral judgements but business decisions.

 

[maratski]

I haven't heard about this in Holland but it's a stupid article. There's no proof and they're just pathetic accusations. It looks like he's jealous with their rankings. Van Lottum has never reached anything in tennis and can't stand that a few hard working Argentinians do climb up the rankings.