LONDON (AP) The International Tennis Federation has confirmed
a one-year suspension for Belgian tennis players Yanina Wickmayer
and Xavier Malisse.
The duo was suspended by a Belgian tribunal this week for
failing to report their whereabouts to anti-doping officials three
times this year.
The ITF said in a statement Saturday that it agreed the players
had violated anti-doping rules.
The governing body said it ''recognizes and respects'' the
tribunal's decision, and will ''take all steps necessary to
enforce'' the ban.
The 18th-ranked Wickmayer, who reached this year's U.S. Open
semifinals, has said she will appeal the ban. She pulled out of
this week's WTA Tour tournament in Bali after the tribunal's
decision was announced.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)