Brengle sues WTA
American professional tennis player Madison Brengle sued the WTA and International Tennis Federation in Florida state court Monday, seeking unspecified damages for “physical and emotional consequences” related to anti-doping blood tests that involve inserting a needle into a vein. “She is not disputing that there should be an anti-doping program. She does not dispute that players should be available to have tests administered. But it has to be done in a medically appropriate manner,” Brengle’s lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, said in a telephone interview after the suit was filed. The defendants also include the ITF’s Stuart Miller; International Doping Tests and Management (IDTM), a Swedish company that administers drug tests for the ITF; and IDTM doping control officer John Snowball. Spokesmen for the WTA and ITF did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit says the defendants knew and ignored that Brengle “suffers from a rare medically diagnosed physical condition which results in both temporary and permanent physical injury, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering from having a needle inserted into her vein.” It adds: “Brengle no longer has normal strength in her arm and endures post-trauma injuries that cause both physical and emotional damage.” Brengle, who turned 28 this month, was ranked as high as 35th in singles and is currently 83rd.