British tennis player Tara Moore is on a mission to reclaim her spot in the tennis world after a two-year hiatus caused by a doping ban that has since been overturned. The 31-year-old doubles player has expressed her readiness to return to the game, setting up a fundraising page to support her comeback.
Moore’s journey back to the court has been tumultuous. The former doubles world No.77 was provisionally banned in May 2022 after testing positive for nandrolone metabolites and boldenone and its metabolite at April’s WTA 250 Copa Colsanitas tournament in Bogota, Colombia, where she reached the doubles final. However, last December, an independent panel ruled that her failed test was due to contaminated meat, overturning her ban.
“I am now exonerated and feel mentally ready to take back my Grand Slam positions,” Moore said, highlighting her determination to return to competitive tennis. Currently unranked, Moore is seeking financial assistance from supporters to cover her training and expenses:
For those of you who don’t know, tennis is an INCREDIBLY expensive sport. A coach alone could cost 3-5k a week, let alone a good fitness trainer and physio to help with the hard training you’re doing. That’s why ANY LEVEL OF SUPPORT HELPS! Even if you think it’s not much or it’s not going to make a difference, it will as every penny will go towards my training and expenses such as food, travel, and ongoing legal fees.
Despite her challenges, Moore remains resolute, emphasizing that she had never knowingly taken a banned substance and is committed to proving her integrity as an athlete.
While the independent tribunal found Moore not at fault for her adverse analytical finding, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) is appealing against this ruling. The ITIA is contesting the tribunal’s decision regarding the nandrolone ingested, with the appeal set to be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the future. (source: BBC)
