Sania's father against ban on essential drugs

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Bangalore, Feb 19 (UNI) Ace tennis star Sania Mirza's father and coach Imran Mirza may take up the WTA's stringent ban on taking drugs even for minor ailments with the tennis body as he held that the restriction may affect players' performance on court.

Imran told UNI here today that Sania was suffering from fever when she played the doubles semifinals in the just-concluded Sony Ericsson International WTA tennis tournament here on Saturday.

''She could not take medicine even for cough as we feared it may contain banned substance...we did not want to take any chance during the tourament...I am thinking of taking up the issue with WTA authorities as it may affect players' performance on court. At least, the WTA can recommend some medicine for minor ailments like cough and common cold. In Grand Slam, there is no such ban...only the WTA has come up with such stringent measures,'' he added.

Sania was suffering from fever, cough and cold when she, partnering with Mara Santangelo of Italy, lost the doubles semifinal to Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei and Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia.

Asked about the super tie-breaker introduced by WTA in the decider, Imran said ''I am against it, it is not the correct way of deciding the winner. It has been introduced in men's tournaments, but for the first time WTA introduced it in this tournament. May be their intention is to finish off the game early.'' Giving credit to Russian Yaroslova Shvedova, who downed Sania in the quarterfinals, he said ''the match was a grand one and teenaged Shvedova's performance was superb, she really played well. Moreover, you cannot expect professionals to win all matches.'' Ranked 46, Sania's next tournament would be the Doha Open. ''We will not prepare for all these matches. Preparation will only be for Grand Slams,'' he said.

UNI

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