Williams upset at ‘discrimination’ on doping tests

Serena Williams claims she is the victim of “discrimination” by US doping chiefs who are testing her more than other players.

At Wimbledon Williams slammed “shocking” treatment over excessive targeting from testers in the run-up to the third grand slam of the season, where she finished runner-up to Angelique Kerber.

And in a tweet yesterday the 23-time major winner reignited the discussion.

“It’s that time of the day to get “randomly” drug tested and only test Serena,” she posted on her official Twitter page. Out of all the players it’s been proven I’m the one getting tested the most. Discrimination? I think so. At least I’ll be keeping the sport clean #StayPositive,” she wrote.

The 36-year-old battled back from life-saving surgery after giving birth to get within touching distance of an eighth Wimbledon title earlier this month.

However, the American suffered a straight-sets defeat by Kerber in the women’s final on July 14.

She had arrived at the tournament on the back of a report revealing her anger about an unannounced test in June where the tester refused to leave her Florida house.

Williams said at the time she had been tested five times on June, compared to one or none from some of her compatriots.

Athletes returning from a long absence are often the subject of repeated drug tests, as they are seen as part of a higher-risk category than athletes in the flow of regular competition.

As part of the US Anti-Doping Agency’s “intelligent” out-of-competition testing program, it is not unusual for top athletes – those who have had sustained success in their sport – to be tested more often than others.