Sania wants AITA to look into Venus' TUE issue

As reports have emerged that Rio Olympics silver medallist Venus Williams have allegedly been allowed to use prohibited substances under Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has demanded that AITA takes up the matter with the appropriate authorities but the national body says it won’t rush into the matter.

‘Fancy Bears’, a Russian hackers group, has claimed that it has uncovered files which showed that several American athletes, including Venus and her younger sister Serena Williams were allowed to take banned substances by the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) under the TUEs procedure.

Sania and Rohan Bopanna had lost their mixed doubles semifinals in the Rio Olympics to American combo of Venus and Rajeev Ram, who ended up as silver medallists.

If any medallist is caught in the dope net, he or she will be stripped of the medal. Then, the medal may be given to the athletes who finished behind the original medallist.

According to sources, Sania’s mother Naseema had called up AITA Life President and ITF Vice President Anil Khanna on Thursday morning asking him to look into matter.
“She informed that Williams sisters have failed WADA dope test and we should take it up with the IOA and IOC,” a source said.

It has also been learnt that even Ashok Kumar, who is from AITA affiliated unit of Telangana has requested AITA to take up the matter.

A senior AITA functionary confirmed the development to PTI but said they can’t rush into the matter since it still needs to be established if Venus is actually at fault.

“Based on just some news we can’t make a claim, the process has to be followed. We need to approach IOA, IOA will then take it up to IOC because the Olympics is their purview. We can’t jump the gun,” the office-bearer told PTI.

Under WADA Rules, athletes may take substances for which they will procure a Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE).