Wickmayer flees Bali over doping procedure infraction ban

Nov 6, 2009, 7:12 GMT

Bali, Indonesia - Distraught US Open semi-finalist Yanina Wickmayer on Friday pulled out of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions after being banned for one year for missing doping tests.

The number 18 player's place in the field for her final group match later will be taken by Russian alternate Vera Dushevina, to face Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm will also reach the weekend semi-finals as a result of Wickmayer's absence.

'As reported this morning, the Flemish Doping Tribunal has informed Yanina Wickmayer that effective immediately they are suspending her from competition due to three filing failures under the Belgian anti-doping whereabouts programme,' said WTA Tour Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster.

'With this information Yanina herself has voluntarily withdrawn from the tournament and as a matter of policy the tour will not make comment on an ongoing tennis anti-doping matter.'

Wickmayer had a good chance to reach the semi-finals as the season wrapup event for winners of WTA International-level tournaments.

She was banned for violating the 'whereabouts' rule but can appeal to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

Reports indicate Wickmayer failed to fulfill the rule by which players must notify anti-doping czars of their location every day of the year, missing three tests in a three-month period.

The regulation has drawn fire from the likes of Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal for its intrusive nature.