Tara Moore's $20 Million Legal Fight Against WTA Escalates with Union Backing
The breakaway players union, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), has thrown its weight behind Tara Moore's $20 million legal battle against the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), marking a new front in tennis's ongoing civil war. Moore, the former British No. 1 doubles player, filed a negligence lawsuit this week after receiving a four-year doping ban, with her legal team hailing from the PTPA's partners, King & Spalding.
Union Support and Legal Strategy
PTPA sources confirmed that while they are not funding Moore's legal bills, they are fully supportive of her claim. King & Spalding is understood to be handling the case on a pro bono basis, meaning free of charge. This move aligns with the PTPA's broader legal actions, including a separate claim against the WTA, ATP, and three grand slam tournaments, accusing them of colluding to reduce prize money and impose restrictive ranking systems. The union, originally founded by Novak Djokovic six years ago, is also pursuing a $1 billion investment round to launch a new global tour, posing a significant threat to established tennis bodies.
Background of the Doping Case
Moore was first suspended in June 2022 after testing positive for boldenone and nandrolone at a tournament in Bogota. The 33-year-old has consistently denied doping, and in December 2023, an independent tribunal cleared her, citing contaminated meat as the likely source. However, an appeal by the International Tennis Integrity Agency to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned this ruling. In July 2025, CAS reimposed Moore's original four-year ban, deducting the 19 months already served, stating she failed to sufficiently prove the high nandrolone levels were accidental.
Allegations of Negligence and Preferential Treatment
In her lawsuit, Moore argues that the WTA failed in its duty of care by not warning players about the risk of meat contamination, specifically before the Bogota event. She seeks $20 million in compensation for reputational and financial ruin. Additionally, Moore alleges that authorities showed preferential treatment to higher-profile players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, who received shorter bans of three months and one month, respectively, for similar contamination issues.
Responses and Ongoing Legal Battles
A WTA spokesperson responded, stating awareness of Moore's filing and intent to respond through legal channels, while respecting the judicial process. The International Tennis Integrity Agency was unavailable for comment. A union source close to the case criticized the handling, asserting that Moore has been treated appallingly with apparent double standards. Meanwhile, the PTPA recently dropped its anti-trust lawsuit against Tennis Australia after a peace deal but continues to sue other slams and tours, with Tennis Australia agreeing to cooperate by providing confidential financial information in exchange for immunity from damages.
