Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

New International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty has not wasted any time in stepping up efforts to ensure tennis does not follow track and field athletics and cycling down the same murky road of suspicion of wide-spread doping.

In his first few weeks of office since succeeding Francesco Ricci Bitti, Haggerty has implemented discussions with the ATP World Tour, the WTA  and the Grand Slam Committee, looking to increase funding for the anti-doping program that currently stands at approximately US$4 million.

Speaking to the New York Times, Haggerty revealed he has instructed the ITF’s scientific department to re-examine the program and potential costs although the level of vigilance is currently superior to many other sports and the ITF has increased the amount of testing significantly since 2012.

Haggerty said: “I think we do have a plan that has integrity that will work for 2016, and it’s not as if we are going to triple in 2017, which would mean we are so bad in 2016. I think we are comfortable with where we are.”

Tennis has successfully out-sourced its anti-corruption program with the Tennis Integrity Unit and the same model could be used in anti-doping.

“It makes us want to make sure we are the best we can be and have programs that really have integrity, whether it’s anti-doping, anticorruption or governance,” Haggerty said. “Because to me, good governance in federations is the biggest issue today we face.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.