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‘Should They Be Allowed to Take Steroids?’- Poignant Question Grips Tennis as American ATP Star Sends Out Stern Message

Published 10/19/2023, 3:39 PM EDT

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The usage of performance-enhancing drugs can be unfair. Reilly Opelka makes a bold remark on the common practices of tennis players. Adderall is a medicated drug that spikes energy levels in an athlete’s body, allowing them to perform better. In the world of medicine, Adderall is used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Various athletes use Adderall to stay one step ahead of their competitors. However, Adderall was not designed to serve this purpose. Opelka recently conveyed his opinion in two strong words.

Due to hip surgery followed by a wrist injury, Reilly Opelka has been inactive for quite some time. Going through a recovery, Opelka is familiar with the difficulties of rebuilding strength. Adderall abuse is nothing new. An unregulated usage of this drug can cause great harm. Having dealt with injuries on multiple occasions, Opelka dove deeper into the realm of unfair usage of drugs, such as Adderall.

Reilly Opelka throws a striking question toward ATP

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Reilly Opelka is not certain about the time of his return. However, he is certain about the changes he wants to see on ATP tours. The way Opelka asserted his point shows that he had thought about the shortcomings of ATP in the past. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) organizes worldwide tennis tours for men. Being a big organization, Opelka’s comment on them is sure to travel a long way.

During an Instagram Q&A, Reilly Opelka was asked about the changes he wanted to see on ATP tours. To that, he said, “Ban Adderall.” Short and powerful, Opelka’s reaction quickly attracted a follow-up question. Earlier in 2022, Fernando Verdasco was suspended for using Adderall. Even at that time, Opelka showed his displeasure regarding drug usage through a social media post.

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Adderall is a prescribed medicine for ADHD. Reilly Opelka was then asked to justify himself on these grounds. Opelka went on to simply ask a question in return. He said, “My comment applies to professional tennis in particular. But some players have a hard time building strength… should they be allowed to take steroids?” If a winner signifies strength gained through honest efforts, the usage of Adderall doesn’t make sense.

‘Come to Despise Some Things’ – American Star Reilly Opelka Gets Real as He Drops Truth Bombs on Tennis Administration

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What’s next for Reilly Opelka?

Reilly Opelka hasn’t appeared on the court since August 2022. In recent news, Opelka withdrew his name from all four major tournaments of 2023. Through the recent Q&A, one thing has been very clear — Opelka will not use Adderall, even if it helps him gain strength faster. Opelka has remained consistent with his remarks on the usage of Adderall and will continue to do so till ATP takes decisive action.

USA Today via Reuters

Much of the competition in sports is derived from ethical practices. Apart from love and war, if everything was fair in sports, too, then excitement would have died down long ago. However, there are always more elements in a story than what meets the eye. The ATP stands at the apex of men’s tennis tours, and their reaction to Opelka’s question will be crucial. What do you think? Comment your thoughts below.

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Written by:

Shudh.mukherjee

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Shudh Mukherjee is a Tennis Editor at EssentiallySports. With a Master’s degree in English Literature, he looks to create meaningful content through extensive research. Being a sportsman and a fitness enthusiast, it was Nadal's resilience and perseverance that attracted him to tennis.
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Edited by:

Shubhankar Adhikari