Tara Moore Sues WTA for $20 Million Over Doping Ban Linked to Contaminated Meat
Former British doubles No. 1 Tara Moore is pursuing legal action against the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), seeking $20 million in damages. The lawsuit stems from a four-year doping ban imposed after she tested positive for banned anabolic steroids, which Moore alleges was a direct result of the WTA’s failure to warn players about the potential risks of consuming contaminated meat during a tournament in Bogotá, Colombia.
Contaminated Meat at the Center of the Dispute
Moore tested positive for boldenone and nandrolone following the Copa Colsanitas tournament in April 2022. She maintained her innocence, arguing that the substances entered her system through the consumption of beef and/or pork. An initial independent tribunal ruled in her favor in December 2023, finding no fault or negligence on her part and lifting her suspension.
However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In July 2025, CAS overturned the earlier ruling, siding with the ITIA’s argument that Moore hadn’t definitively proven the contamination source. This decision effectively sidelined her through much of the 2027 season.
WTA Accusations: Failure to Warn Athletes
Moore’s lawsuit alleges that the WTA “possessed concrete, actionable knowledge of a specific and well-documented danger of contaminated meat in Bogotá, Colombia, yet it chose to remain silent, failing to warn its athletes about that risk.” This alleged negligence, she claims, directly led to her positive test and subsequent ban.
“I thought that the WTA were going to contact me and help figure out who do I need to speak to? Do I need a lawyer? How am I going to figure this out? I was very naive in thinking they were very much on my side, when it was very clear quite quickly how opposite and how far away from the truth that was.”
Tara Moore, speaking to The First Serve
Legal Strategy and CAS Opinion
Moore’s legal strategy hinges on the CAS’s own opinion, which identified her as ultimately responsible for what she ingested. She argues that had the WTA properly warned players about the health risks associated with meat consumption in Bogotá, she would have avoided consuming the contaminated product, thus preventing the positive test and the ensuing legal battle.
The four-year doping ban has resulted in lost sponsorships and the inability to compete professionally, severely impacting Moore’s career and livelihood.
FAQ
What is Tara Moore seeking from the WTA?
Tara Moore is seeking $20 million in damages from the WTA.
What caused Tara Moore’s positive doping test?
Moore alleges her positive test was caused by consuming contaminated meat in Bogotá, Colombia.
What was the outcome of the initial tribunal ruling?
The initial tribunal ruled in Moore’s favor, finding no fault or negligence on her part.
This is a developing story. 247sports.news will continue to provide updates as they become available.