AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2003

Geoff Pollard

GEOFF POLLARD: This is speculation. It really is nothing more than speculation. Comes up every three or four months. I suppose it's come up now because this is the first tournament of the year, with the new drug rule where EPO will be tested, as well. That's probably behind it. But it's pure speculation. We do participate in the drug testing of the ITF, the ATP, WTA. It's combined drug testing. It's as good as any drug testing regime in the world. But the story is pure speculation. There is no evidence. We continue to support the full drug testing of the ATP, ITF, WTA, as well as the Australian Sports Drug Agency.

GEOFF POLLARD: Look, I'm not an expert in the detail. Our major aim at Tennis Australia is to make sure we are a full and active participant in all the drug testing programs that apply within Australia and apply internationally. We do that. As I said, we are actually a leader because we'll be the first tournament in the world to have drug testing for EPO.

GEOFF POLLARD: I don't know why you call them strong. They have no evidence. I'm basically a scientist, a statistician; I work on evidence. There is a lot of drug testing taking place, but the evidence, I think I read, is in 10 years, there's no evidence. Not strong evidence; there's no evidence.

GEOFF POLLARD: We conduct tests, Australia, but the ITF, ATP and WTA on behalf of the game of tennis conduct drug tests worldwide to ensure that the game is clean and that you know when you're playing the game of tennis, you're as clean as the opponent on the other side. Anything else is pure speculation.

GEOFF POLLARD: I believe people should make statements based on evidence. As I said, it doesn't surprise me it comes up. It comes up every six months. You just don't know when someone is going to make that sort of allegation. The testing takes place and there are no facts to substantiate the allegations.

GEOFF POLLARD: I think what he said is that he has no evidence, but it's up to us to ensure that there is sufficient drug testing taking place, that he can be confident that there is no drug taking.

GEOFF POLLARD: I talk to all our players.

GEOFF POLLARD: Because he said there's no evidence, I didn't hear the actual -- I didn't read the transcript of what he actually said. Whether it was a throw-away line that became a front-page article or whether it was something more serious than that in his view. I haven't asked John that particular question. My major aim is to ensure that we participate fully in the program. If there was any truth to his allegations, I can assure you, people would be caught in due course.