Serena Williams criticizes 'grueling' anti-doping process ahead of Wimbledon return

Serena Williams will participate in women’s singles at Wimbledon for the first time since 2022, entering the tournament as a wild card entrant.She’s also in the doubles event with her sister, Venus, for the first time since 2016.The road to get back to professional tennis was a long one.
Williams had to go back into the anti-doping pool.When asked about the process on Sunday, the 44-year-old tennis legend called the system "unprofessional" and "unreasonable."ZERO BS.
JUST DAKICH.TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD.
DOWNLOAD NOW!Serena Williams of the United States arrives to practice one day before the start of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on June 28, 2026.(Kin Cheung/Associated Press)"It’s grueling.
They changed the rules now.I didn’t know some of the rules.
So apparently if you miss a test outside of your window, it still counts as missed.I’m like, I guess I can’t go pick up my kids," she said.
"It’s unprofessional.I hate it.
I think it’s necessary, but I think a lot of the stuff, if I want to go places outside of my window, I should be able to go without having it count as a missed test."The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) requires players to provide their daily "whereabouts" for no-notice testing.It’s a feature that has come under much scrutiny over the last few weeks.Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, was suspended for four years for refusing an anti-doping test.Williams called the process "unreasonable."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMSerena Williams of the United States smiles after a training session at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ahead of the Wimbledon Championships in London on June 25, 2026.
(Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)"That was a big reason why I didn’t want to come back either because it’s just so hard.I mean, my life is busy, I run a company, I run a VC company, I travel the world.
I have children.It’s like I could be in so many different ci...