Tennis steps up war on drugs

Korda failed a drugs test at Wimbledon in 1998

Tennis chiefs have stepped up the fight against performance-enhancing drugs by pushing for blood tests to be introduced in 2003.

International Tennis Federation (ITF) president Christian Bimes said doping was taking place but was quick to point out that it was not as widespread as in other sports.

Bimes said organisers of the four Grand Slam tournaments had decided to double their funding of anti-doping policies.

"The ITF is about to sign an agreement with the World Anti Doping Agency," Bimes told a news conference at Roland-Garros on Monday.

"The Grand Slam organisers even accepted the idea of doubling our funding and of supporting the ITF through subsidies so as to put into place more technical and more efficient anti-doping tests.

"On doping, I think the ITF should lead the way and work with the International Olympic Committee to make things clearer.

"The fact that we're ready to put in more money will result in a modification of the rules which should become official at Wimbledon.

"It would mean that blood tests could be allowed in 2003."

Players already undergo random urine tests.