Tennis players face stricter anti-doping whereabouts rules from 2027

Tennis players will face stricter anti-doping whereabouts requirements from January 2027, when a longstanding exemption allowing the sport to operate under different rules during tournaments is set to end.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the changes on Wednesday, explaining that new requirements under the World Anti-Doping Code will introduce a daily 60-minute testing window for players included in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) during competitions.

Previously, tennis had been granted an exemption from this requirement because of the unpredictable nature of match schedules and tournament commitments. From 2027, however, players remaining in the RTP will be subject to the same daily testing-window rules as athletes in other sports that comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) framework.

ITIA to Reduce Registered Testing Pool

To accommodate the changes, the ITIA plans to reduce the size of its Registered Testing Pool, transferring approximately 80% of currently listed players into an expanded testing pool that will not require a daily 60-minute testing window.

Players who remain in the smaller RTP will have to provide a designated 60-minute period each day when they can be located for testing, both during competitions and outside tournament periods.

“Players who remain in the reduced RTP will be required to provide a daily 60-minute time slot like athletes in every WADA-compliant sport, both in and out of competition,” the ITIA said.

Despite the restructuring, the agency expects the overall number of players subject to testing across both pools to remain broadly consistent with current levels. The frequency and volume of testing are also unlikely to change.

The adjustments are therefore intended to align tennis with the updated international anti-doping framework while accounting for the sport’s distinctive competition schedule.

Greater Protection in Contamination Cases

The new rules will also introduce changes intended to provide greater protection for athletes who can demonstrate that a positive doping test resulted from contamination.

Potential circumstances include contaminated medication, food or drink, environmental exposure, or substances inadvertently transferred through another person.

The updated framework will also allow greater flexibility in sanctions in certain situations. In some cases involving recreational drugs unrelated to sporting performance, rehabilitation-focused measures may be available as an alternative approach.

These provisions aim to distinguish between different circumstances surrounding anti-doping violations while maintaining the integrity of the sport.

Players to Learn Their Testing Status in November

Tennis players will be informed in November whether they have been assigned to the Registered Testing Pool or the expanded testing pool. Individual classifications will not be made public.

However, the revised system will not remove players’ fundamental obligation to comply with anti-doping procedures.

Regardless of their pool classification, all players must provide a sample when requested by an authorised doping control officer. Refusing to comply with a testing request can carry serious consequences, including a potential suspension of up to four years.

The changes represent a significant adjustment to tennis’s anti-doping procedures, bringing the sport’s whereabouts requirements closer to those applied across other WADA-compliant disciplines.

With the new rules scheduled to take effect in January 2027, players and their support teams will need to understand their obligations well before the revised system comes into force.