Tennis Player Serving 4-Year Doping Ban Seeks $20M in Damages From WTA

Tara Moore claims positive test was due to contaminated meat, not intentional doping

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Tara Moore, a former British doubles No. 1 player, is seeking $20 million in damages from the WTA Tour after being handed a four-year doping ban. Moore claims the positive test for banned anabolic steroids was due to consuming contaminated meat in Colombia, not intentional doping. She was initially cleared of any wrongdoing, but the ITIA appealed the decision, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the ban.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges around doping in professional sports, particularly the issue of contaminated meat leading to positive tests. It also raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the anti-doping appeals process, which Moore argues is biased against athletes.

The details

In May 2022, Moore tested positive for the anabolic steroids boldenone and nandrolone following a tournament in Colombia. She argued the positive test was caused by consuming contaminated beef or pork during her stay. An independent tribunal initially ruled that Moore bore no fault or negligence, clearing her of the doping violation. However, the ITIA appealed the decision, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the ruling, imposing a four-year ban on Moore.

  • In May 2022, Moore tested positive for banned substances following a tournament in Colombia.
  • In December 2023, an independent tribunal ruled that Moore bore no fault or negligence.
  • In July 2024, the ITIA's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was upheld, resulting in a four-year ban for Moore.
  • In November 2024, Moore's appeal of the CAS decision was dismissed.

The players

Tara Moore

A former British doubles No. 1 player who is serving a four-year doping ban after testing positive for two banned anabolic steroids, which she claims were due to consuming contaminated meat.

WTA Tour

The women's professional tennis tour that Moore is seeking $20 million in damages from, arguing the organization failed to warn players about the risk of contaminated meat in Bogotá, Colombia.

International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)

The organization that oversees the sport's anti-doping program and appealed the initial ruling clearing Moore of any wrongdoing.

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

The highest court in international sports that upheld the ITIA's appeal and imposed a four-year ban on Moore.

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What they’re saying

“The anti-doping system is broken and the process is subjective.”

— Tara Moore (Social media)

“The CAS system presumes the athlete's guilt and imposes on the accused the near-impossible burden of proving innocence, effectively reversing the neutral fact analysis and evidentiary burdens that are foundational to New York and U.S. civil law.”

— Tara Moore (Legal filing)

“Our bar for appealing a first instance decision is high, and the decision is not taken lightly. In this case, our independent scientific advice was that the player did not adequately explain the high level of nandrolone present in their sample.”

— Karen Moorhouse, ITIA Chief Executive (ITIA statement)

What’s next

The judge in Moore's lawsuit against the WTA will decide whether to allow the case to proceed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges around doping in professional sports, particularly the issue of contaminated meat leading to positive tests, and raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the anti-doping appeals process.