{"id":150314,"date":"2025-09-21T01:58:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T01:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/150314\/"},"modified":"2025-09-21T01:58:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T01:58:11","slug":"tennis-stars-warned-against-eating-chinese-meat-amid-doping-fears-tennis-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/150314\/","title":{"rendered":"Tennis stars warned against eating Chinese meat amid doping fears | Tennis | Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tennis stars have been warned against eating Chinese meat as it may contain banned substances. ATP Tour<\/a> and WTA Tour<\/a> players have headed to Asia this month for a string of tournaments following the final Grand Slam of the season at the US Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n

China is the biggest host of professional tennis events outside of the four countries that host Grand Slams. And over the next two months, tennis stars will compete for a share of more than \u00a322million in prize money on offer at tournaments in the country. But players have been told to be careful about the meat they are consuming.<\/p>\n

Advice from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) states: \u201cPlayers are urged to understand the risks of eating meat in these countries (China, Mexico and Guatemala) during tournaments and seek other sources of protein (such as plant-based, or fish) where possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the ITIA have explained that athletes should try to consume meat only from the tournament venue and hotel, ask about the source of meat if possible and eat with other players.\u201d<\/p>\n

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According to The i Paper<\/a>, farmers in China use a number of steroids that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to promote growth in the production of beef, lamb, chicken and pork.<\/p>\n

The steroids include clenbuterol and ractopamine, with the ITIA also stating that players should keep a detailed food diary to assist any potential anti-doping investigation should they test positive for a banned substance.<\/p>\n

But tennis stars may still be suspended if they are unable to prove where they ingested banned substances.<\/p>\n

The warning comes as American tennis player Taylor Townsend was forced to apologise<\/a> for comments she made about Chinese food while representing the USA at the Billie Jean King Cup.<\/p>\n

Commenting on Chinese dishes, she explained in a video on Instagram<\/a>: \u201cThis is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen… Imma have to talk to HR… [eating] turtle and bullfrog is WILD.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese people are literally killing frogs… bullfrogs. Aren’t those poisonous? Aren’t those the ones that be giving you warts and boils and stuff? And turtles?… All in all I’d give this like a solid two out of 10 so far, because this is crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

She then apologised in another video as she explained: \u201cThere’s no excuse, there’s no words and, for me, I will be better. I understand that I am so privileged as a professional athlete to be able to travel all around the world and experience cultural differences, which is one of the things I love so much about what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n