Tara Moore Teams Up with PTPA to Offer Free Legal Support to Tennis Players

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has launched a pro bono legal aid program to support tennis players facing doping and corruption allegations, with Tara Moore co-founding the initiative.

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has announced the launch of a pro-bono legal defense program aimed at supporting tennis players who face allegations of doping or corruption. This initiative is designed to provide players with access to legal expertise, regardless of their financial resources, and is a significant step forward in the PTPA's efforts to advocate for players' rights.

The PTPA, co-founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil in 2020, has partnered with renowned law firms King & Spalding LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to provide this critical support. This program is particularly important for lower-ranked players who may not have the financial means to defend themselves against doping or corruption allegations.

Recent high-profile cases, including those involving world number one Jannik Sinner and five-time major winner Iga Swiatek, have highlighted the need for such a program. Both players were able to quickly clear their names, but the experience has left some lower-ranked players anxious about the potential consequences of facing similar allegations. The fear is that a double standard may exist in the handling of doping cases, with wealthier players having an unfair advantage.

The personal experience of former British doubles number one Tara Moore underscores the importance of the PTPA's pro-bono legal defense program. Moore was provisionally suspended for 19 months after failing a drug test but was ultimately cleared of all wrongdoing in December 2023. However, the ordeal came at a significant financial cost, with Moore revealing that she spent $250,000 in legal fees to defend herself.

Tara Moore, a former British doubles number one, was ranked 83rd in the world when her provisional suspension was announced in June 2022. Moore, who co-founded the pro-bono program with the PTPA, is still dealing with the aftermath of her suspension, as the International Tennis Integrity Agency has decided to appeal the independent tribunal's finding of no fault or negligence. As a result, Moore expects her expenses to continue to climb.

Moore's experience has motivated her to help other players who may be facing similar challenges. She emphasized the importance of the pro-bono program, saying, “This is a way to sort of help players that don't have that resource kind of reach out and be like, okay, I do have support. I'm not alone in this. I don't need to struggle by myself.” The program aims to provide players with access to legal counsel and support, helping them navigate the complex and often daunting process of defending themselves against doping or corruption allegations.

Under the program, the PTPA will take an “initial intake” of each case and then connect players with legal counsel. Ahmad Nassar, the PTPA's Executive Director, described the current system as “an opaque and deeply flawed legal system.” The program seeks to address this issue by providing players with the support and resources they need to defend themselves.

Moore, who is currently working to regain her ranking, hopes that the program will make a positive impact on the lives of other players who have faced similar challenges. Reflecting on her own experience, Moore said, “I went through an incredibly dark time when this happened, you know, I think if the people around me didn't help, or they didn't support me the way that they have done, I don't know if I would be here because it's depressing. It's scary. You just never think that it's ever going to happen to you.”