Former British Doubles No 1 Shares Legal Firm with PTPA
The 33-year-old doubles player has consistently denied doping allegations.
The breakaway players union currently engaged in litigation against the tennis tours and grand slam events has expressed its support for Tara Moore’s $20 million (£14.7 million) legal case against the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), marking a new development in the ongoing civil dispute within tennis.
has confirmed that Moore, the former British No 1 doubles competitor who recently initiated a negligence lawsuit against the WTA following a four-year doping ban, is represented by the legal firm King & Spalding, which also serves as legal counsel for the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).
The PTPA has previously filed a lawsuit against the WTA, ATP, and three grand slam tournaments, alleging anti-competitive practices and the enforcement of a restrictive ranking system. This case is being heard in the same court where Moore’s claim has been submitted, the New York Southern District Court.
Founded six years ago by Novak Djokovic, the PTPA has grown into a significant players’ union, despite some resistance from the tennis establishment. The organization is currently pursuing a $1 billion investment round aimed at launching a new global tennis tour, which could pose an additional challenge to the WTA and ATP.
Sources within the PTPA told that while the union is not covering Moore’s legal expenses, it supports her claim. King & Spalding is reportedly providing legal services on a pro bono basis, meaning free of charge.
Details of Moore’s Suspension and Legal Action
Moore was initially suspended in June 2022 after testing positive for the anabolic steroids boldenone and nandrolone during a tournament in Bogota. Throughout the process, the 33-year-old player has maintained her innocence regarding doping allegations. In December 2023, an independent tribunal cleared Moore, concluding that contaminated meat was the "likely source" of the positive test results.
However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In July 2025, CAS overturned the tribunal’s ruling and reinstated Moore’s original four-year ban, discounting the 19 months she had already served. The CAS decision was based on the finding that the high nandrolone levels in her system were accidental.
Moore’s current lawsuit accuses the WTA of negligence, claiming the organization failed to adequately warn players about the risk of meat contamination prior to the Bogota tournament. She is seeking $20 million in damages, citing reputational harm and financial losses. Moore contends that the WTA neglected its duty of care to protect athletes.
Additionally, Moore alleges that the ITIA exhibited preferential treatment toward higher-profile players, specifically naming names redacted, who received significantly shorter bans of three months and one month respectively after similar contamination incidents.
Responses and Ongoing Litigation
A WTA spokesperson stated:
“We are aware of Tara Moore’s filing in the US District Court and will respond through the appropriate legal process. The arbitration was conducted by a neutral arbitrator, and there is no basis to vacate the arbitrator’s award. We respect the judicial process and will not comment further while the matter is pending.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency did not provide a comment when approached.
A source within the players’ union familiar with the case told :
“We’re supporting Tara, as she has been treated appallingly. It appears clear there are different systems in place for different people.”
Last month, the PTPA withdrew its antitrust lawsuit against Tennis Australia after reaching a settlement ahead of the Australian Open. However, the union continues to pursue legal action against the other three grand slam tournaments and the tours.
According to court documents, Tennis Australia has agreed to cooperate with the PTPA in its litigation against the other tournaments. This cooperation includes providing confidential financial information. In exchange, Tennis Australia has been removed from the claim and avoids potential liability for damages that could amount to tens of millions of pounds.
