Murray wants tennis to learn from Armstrong doping scandalFebruary 5, 2013 - 14:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Andy Murray wants tennis to learn from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal and introduce tighter controls, BBC Sport reported. The British number one believes that prize funds should be reduced if it is the only way to fund more regular blood testing and protect the sport's image. "It's down to our governing bodies and the ATP to invest some of our own money and make sure we get more testing done," he said. "If it means taking some of the money out of the players' earnings then that's what we have to do." Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes is currently on trial in Madrid after admitting providing athletes with banned substances in sport's latest drug inquiry. The World Anti-Doping Agency was initially told that tennis players were amongst the sportspeople supplied by Fuentes when his operation was uncovered by Spanish police in 2006. However Fuentes is only being tried over doping in one sport as cyclists were the only athletes that could be identified from the bags of blood seized. "I think it's essential that the names and whoever was involved with it, it's essential for tennis that that comes out," said Murray. "If one in 100 is doping then, in my eyes, that isn't a clean sport and we need to everything we can to ensure we have everyone that's competing at the highest level and below is clean. I know what goes in my body and I know from my side that I'm clean, so that's all I can comment on." Murray argues that more blood tests, combined with biological passports that monitor for the effects of doping, is the best tactic to ensure a clean sport and may not be as costly as first appears. "The only way you can improve your testing procedures is by having more of them and you need money to do that - it's a cost thing," he said. "But in the long term I think you save money because I think more people would come to watch sports, rather than reading all the time about these doping scandals." The International Tennis Federation carried out a total of 131 blood tests in and out competition in 2011 - the most recent year for which figures are available - alongside 2,019 urine tests. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |