TENNIS in DEPTH.

Yanina Wickmayer has been offered wildcard entry to a WTA tennis tournament in Auckland in January after a Belgian court provisionally lifted her one-year suspension for anti-doping violations.

Belgium’s Wickmayer and compatriot Xavier Malise received one year bans on Nov. 5 for violating World Anti Doping Agency regulations by failing to report their whereabouts to drug testers.

The International Tennis Federation imposed the bans worldwide.

Lawyers for Wickmayer, 20, argued she was not properly informed of the reporting requirements and Monday’s injunction means she is eligible to play immediately.

Brenda Perry, tournament director for the USD 220,000 ASB Classic which runs from Jan. 4 to 9, said Tuesday she had offered Wickmayer a wildcard.

“We’ve confirmed that if she’s allowed to play we’re offering her the wildcard,” Perry said.

The ITF is waiting to hear from the Belgian national anti-doping agency before it can make a formal ruling of their eligibility.

“Basically, it’s up to (them) to liaise with the Belgian court and make its decision based on that and inform us,” Imison said. “As of last night, we hadn’t received any official correspondence at all.”

The Belgium anti-doping agency did immediately return a call seeking comment.

After Monday’s ruling in Brussels, Wickmayer was offered a wildcard to play at the ASB Classic, a tournament in New Zealand that serves as a warmup for the Australian Open. She is also hoping the ruling will get her another wildcard for the season’s first Grand Slam tournament.

The next step would be to be able to use those wildcards and compete.

“At this precise moment, she is ineligible to play,” said Imison, adding it was difficult to say when an official decision would be made.

“From our point of view, procedures are clear, and that if a decision is made by a national anti-doping authority, then these are sent though to us and then the ITF needs to make sure proper procedure has been followed,” Imison said. “At this stage, all we can say is that we await to receive the kind of relevant documentation and ruling from Belgium.”

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