Doping Bans Handed To Women's Tennis Players Wickmayer, Malisse

November 5, 2009 6:47 p.m. EST

Brussels, Belgium (AHN) - U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer was slapped with a one-year ban by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal Thursday for thrice failing the requirement for drug testing.

Wickmayer, ranked 18th in the world, was suspended by the Flemish Doping Tribunal (VDT) for failing to report under the "whereabouts rule" on three occasions.

Under the ADAMS (Anti-Doping Administration and Management System), athletes are obliged to tell national anti-doping authorities where they will be at a chosen hour each day for a three-month period.

Wickmayer, 20, currently playing in the Tournament of Champions in Bale, reportedly denied any wrongdoing.

Compatriot Xavier Malisse has also been handed a one-year ban over two similar "whereabouts" testing failures.

Both players can appeal their respective suspensions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).