In 2018, veteran tennis skilled Madison Brengle took on the governing our bodies of the tennis world, the Worldwide Tennis Federation and the Girls’s Tennis Affiliation, together with their blood testing associates, to problem the abusive procedures used to police tennis’ anti-doping program. Tennis authorities ignored Madison’s identified situation that made needle insertion each extraordinarily painful and inflicted long- time period, everlasting bodily harm. Madison introduced harm claims primarily based on allegations of battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional misery. Madison made it clear that the anti-doping program is important to the integrity of the game however that up to date procedures needed to be instituted to guard the gamers’ well being and security. Collectively together with her Legal professional, Peter R. Ginsberg of Moskowitz, Colson, Ginsberg & Schulman, Madison has waged a battle for greater than 4 years for herself and all athletes. This battle has lastly come to an finish with a confidential settlement reached with the Worldwide Tennis Federation.
Madison is a pioneer in difficult tennis’ strongest establishments in her effort to safeguard the well being of gamers. In the middle of the battle, tennis authorities radically modified blood testing by agreeing to make use of a non-invasive course of for anti-doping testing involving a WADA-approved dried blood spot testing; tennis authorities, properly earlier than altering its apply for all tennis gamers, agreed to halt invasive testing of Madison, recognizing her identified well being situation; and, now have lastly put an finish to the litigation. The implications of getting an accredited, much less invasive blood testing methodology are far reaching. All athletes concerned with WADA-affiliated organizations ought to now be capable to ask for a much less invasive methodology when wanted.
Whereas Madison’s bodily accidents are everlasting, and embody partial paralysis of her arm— compromising her skill to serve—this battle has proven her colleagues on the Tour that battling the authorities, whereas lengthy and tough, typically is each essential and productive. She leaves behind a extra humane, whereas equally efficient, testing process. “I’m glad that the battle is over, however most pleased with how the battle was waged and the contributions made to skilled tennis,” Madison defined in asserting decision of the litigation.
