Australian tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt has slammed the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) drug testing procedures, saying that he found it 'mind-boggling'.
Australian captain Pat Rafter will rest Hewitt and give teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis his first Davis Cup start in Sunday's reverse singles and it was a fitting end to Hewitt's typically combative participation in Australia's first appearance in the Davis Cup World Group in six years, played against France.
According to News.com.au, for an unexplained reason the ITF broke from usual protocol and chose to drug test players midway through the tie rather than after the final match, adding that the Australian players were told they could not shower and forced to wait while the home team was tested first.
Hewitt, who was later directed to give numerous samples as his best efforts were judged to be unsatisfactory, said that he found the process 'mind-boggling', adding that he is disappointed at the drug testing and what went on behind the scenes.
Stating that the players were kept waiting for a long time, Hewitt also said that the testing should have been done after the tie, adding that it is ridiculous to have to test more than three times and the entire night.
Hewitt also revealed that young Australian players Nick Kyrgios and Kokkinakis had to test literally before they walked on court before the doubles match, adding that they were not even allowed to watch the start of the match.