Federer, Murray, Nadal demand transparent drug-testing regime in tennis

Top players urged authorities to protect tennis' clean image by making drug testing more stringent and transparent.

New Delhi: In a bid to tackle the scourge of doping in tennis, top players have urged authorities to protect the sport's clean image by making drug testing more stringent and transparent.

Speaking at pre-ATP World Tour Finals press conferences in London on Friday, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal collectively voiced their concerns, and called for an increased anti-doping mechanism to avoid similar scandal which is rocking athletics.

"I think they are trying their most but we can do more. Whenever you make the quarter-finals of a tournament, when the points are greater, the money is greater, you should know that you will be tested," Federer said.

The Swiss maestro added, "that would be very clear and simple. And if they keep the tests for longer, I'm all for that, not just weeks and months, years I'm talking about. That's the way to scare people."

Murray, however, called for more transparency and said, "I think the more transparency the better, there's absolutely no question about that."

"We, as a sport, could invest more money in anti-doping processes. Prize money now is so high, there's no reason not to have as perfect a process as possible.

"I've been tested more than any athlete but it doesn't make a difference. Lance Armstrong was the most tested athlete on earth and didn't fail a drug test. That doesn't necessarily guarantee anything," the Scots added.

Nadal also called for more transparency but said, the authorities rather than the players should bear the bill for increased testing.

"Without being arrogant, it's a rich sport, we have a very healthy sport, the people who run the sport need to be sure sport is clean," the Spaniard said.

"Players need to be sure and confident with people who run the sport to be 100 percent clean in the right way. I don't care if we have to put prize money, fine for me.

"[It] will be great if one day the anti-doping that we do is 100 percent public."

The International Tennis Federation manages, administers and enforces the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme on behalf of the ATP and the WTA.

(With Agency inputs)