‘Data is not steroids’: Whoop CEO blasts Australian Open for ‘ridiculous’ decision to force tennis stars to remove its tracker

• Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were ordered to remove their Whoop bands at the Australian Open
• Whoop CEO Will Ahmed spoke out on the issue, branding the situation 'ridiculous'
• A Whoop spokesperson also got in touch with TechRadar, reaffirming its stance that 'blocking access to personal health data does not protect sport'

Whoops are some of the very best (albeit most expensive) fitness trackers around, especially from a recovery point of view. Designed to aid and inform data-driven training techniques, Whoop bands are used by all kinds of top athletes the world over – including top tennis stars like current world no.1 women's player Aryna Sabalenka and current world no.1 men's player Carlos Alcaraz.

Whoop hit the headlines during the ongoing Australian Open, when Alcaraz was forced by an umpire to remove his Whoop, worn under a wristband, during his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul. Similarly, Sabalenka was also asked to remove her fitness tracker before a match, while men's player Jannik Sinner was also asked to remove his tracker.

“The reason why I was wearing that on court, because we received the email that we got approval from the ITF to wear this device. I didn't know that grand slams didn't come to conclusion,” Sabalenka told the press after her win over Iva Jovic. "It's just for tracking my health." Sabalenka, coincidentally, is an ambassador for Whoop, so there may be an as-yet unpublicized commercial element to the controversy.

Whoop's CEO Will Ahmed posted the video of Alcaraz being asked to take his tracker off on social media, commenting: "Ridiculous. Whoop is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety risk.

"Let the athletes measure their body. Data is not steroids!"

Whoop's official position

I reached out to Whoop to see what the company had to say. A spokesperson replied with the following statement:

“WHOOP believes athletes have a fundamental right to understand their own performance and health – including during competition at events like the Australian Open. WHOOP is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety, fairness, or competitive risk.

"Blocking access to personal health data does not protect sport. WHOOP will continue to stand with athletes and our members to defend their right to their data.”

Data's role in athletics

Today's athletes understand far more about their bodies than they did 20, or even 10 years ago. Beyond using stopwatches and pedometers, we now have devices like the best smartwatches and fitness trackers that can generate accurate strain and recovery information. Athletes now have far more information to go on, helping them understand how and when to push their limits.

I can understand the temptation to wear a Whoop during matches, not just during prep, for the athlete's team to understand their expended effort during, and recovery process after, every match. There's no question the increase in data collection affects athletes on and off the court.

However, if Whoop has been cleared to be worn on the court by the International Tennis Federation, there's a clear disconnect between that ruling and the ban on fitness trackers at the Australian Open this year.

Whoop also seems to be operating within commercial rules too. The Australian Open website also lists player sponsorship rules: "At the Australian Open, players are allowed up to two commercial (non-manufacturer) logos on their clothing, each no larger than three square inches.

"Manufacturer logos are treated separately and are allowed in additional positions (such as the shirt front, back or collar) but must remain small. Shorts and skirts may carry limited manufacturer branding, while compression garments have their own narrow allowances."

Whoop's tiny logo seems unlikely to breach these legislations. It could be argued the design itself is pretty iconic, but there's been a recent rise in Whoop clones such as the Polar Loop and Amazfit Helio Strap.

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