WTA Tour set to return to China in 2023 following suspension over Peng Shuai situation
Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova, along with the likes of Andy Murray and Naomi Osaka, will all be returning to the country for a possible return to the World Tour Finals (WTFS) in 2023.
The WTA Tour was suspended in February after the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) found that Peng Shuai had committed an anti-doping rule infraction.
As a result the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and subsequent WTF Chairman Carlos Cordeiro, decided a postponement of the WTFs until a ruling was reached by the ITF Tribunal on the anti-doping rule infraction and the result.
Peng will serve a lifetime ban on the WTFs for the anti-doping rule infraction.
Under the terms of the postponement, the WTFs will now not return until May 2020, but the tour is also in the process of developing a plan for further action due to the anti-doping rule violation.
“WTA has reached an agreement with the ITF to move forward after a review of the case,” a statement from the WTA said today.
“The WTA and ITF will continue to share information and evaluate the latest facts in this case as is customary with such cases.
“The WTA will be in close contact with the ITF and will make every effort to have a full evaluation of all evidence, including USADA’s findings and how best to respond to the ITF.”
“While we are committed to ensuring that our priority is the health, interests and safety of our players, the WTA and the ITF have agreed that an independent review would allow us to further develop our policy on anti-doping practices.
“This will include further review of the WTFs process, which is already progressing through a review and will be completed in May 2020. WTA and ITF will continue to maintain a dialogue in order to provide the players and officials with the optimal information and appropriate support.”
Nadal, who has taken a break following his US Open withdrawal, will return to action in 2019 and wants
