Belgian tennis players appeal doping bans

LAUSANNE, Switzerland(AP) — Belgian tennis players Yanina
Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse have asked the Court of Arbitration
for Sport to overturn their one-year bans for missing drug
tests.

The CAS said Wednesday the players want to annul their
suspensions for failing three times to report their whereabouts
for unannounced drug-testing.

The tribunal will issue a ruling within four months.

Wickmayer claims she was not properly informed of the online
reporting requirements for drug-testing that led to her ban.

The 20-year-old U.S. Open semifinalist was suspended by a
Belgian anti-doping tribunal this month for failing three times
to report her whereabouts for drug testing. The ban was
confirmed by the International Tennis Federation.

Malisse, a 2002 Wimbledon semifinalist, also was banned a year
for the same offense.

Under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules, elite athletes must
be available for out-of-competition testing for one hour a day,
365 days a year. They must give three months’ notice of where
they will be so they can be tested.