“I’m on two strikes — I hate the rule” – Kokkinakis disapproves of strict anti-doping measures

The Aussie has missed two doping tests in 2024 and missing another can lead to a ban

Thanasi Kokkinakis, Davis Cup, 2024 © Imago / Panoramic

December 4, 2024

Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis recently disapproved of the stringent anti-doping measures that require a tennis player to appear for an examination at any time during the calendar year without prior notice. Failing to comply with the obligations may lead to a ban for the player.

Sweden’s Mikael Ymer is undergoing one such punishment for missing three dope tests in 2021. Ymer is barred from professional tennis till December 2024, serving an 18-month ban.

Ymer’s case sparked a conversation between UTS stars Kokkinakis, Denis Shapovalov, and Dominic Thiem ahead of the 2024 UTS Grand Final — scheduled for December 6-8 at London’s Copper Box Arena.

“What do you think of this Mikael Ymer thing,” Shapovalov asked Kokkinakis and Thiem during a round-table conversation on UTS Tour.

In response, Kokkinakis revealed already missing two drug tests this year.

Honestly, I hate it. I hate the rule and it’s a good topic because I’m on two strikes. I’m sh***ing myself.”

“I haven’t had one in a while and every time I wake up to pee… so my thing is 7 to 8 am, that’s when I put my thing. I don’t know why, it pisses me off, I always wake up at like 6:20 am and need to pee so badly. And I’m like do I hold this in? If doping comes from 7 to 8 and I’m holding this thing, my bladder is going to explode and I get some knock on the door, I’m going to lose my marbles if I’ve peed already.

“They sit there at the end of the table and they’re just like watching me and I’m in bed and they’re looking at me, I’m like: ‘I can’t help you dude!’ And I’m scowling like all these waters, trying to get it done and I’ll probably miss the amount. And then after I do the doping, I need to pee like 100 times for the rest of the day.”