Aneke Rune: "Rasmussen criticizes my son when he doped for 12 years"

Aneke, mother of Holger Rune, has responded to criticism from Michael Rasmussen, former professional cyclist, about her son's physical condition.

After a cruel elimination in Shanghai, marked by violent cramps and a serious Achilles tendon injury, criticism poured in, particularly from an unexpected name: Michael Rasmussen, former professional cyclist with a heavy past.

When asked about Rune's physical condition, Rasmussen didn't mince words: "It is unacceptable that a professional player is not prepared for conditions like those in Shanghai." A comment that didn't sit well at all with Aneke Rune, the player's mother and manager, who immediately responded in a statement to the Danish press:

"I heard the cyclist Michael Rasmussen say that it was simply unacceptable that Holger was not properly physically prepared for Shanghai, where he suffered from cramps in 35-degree heat with 80% humidity.

I can only respond that given the history of the former Tour de France rider, who systematically used doping products for 12 years (...). I'm sure he would be well prepared for a tennis tournament in Shanghai."

For reference, Rasmussen admitted to using banned substances, including erythropoietin (EPO), insulin, growth hormones, and undergoing blood transfusions between 1998 and 2010. He was removed from the 2007 Tour de France following failures to provide accurate location information for anti-doping controls.