The Atlantic Senior Editor Suggests Serena Williams Uses Anabolic Steroids

David Frum, the senior editor for Atlantic Magazine, recently suggested that professional tennis player Serena Williams was using anabolic steroids in a series of messages posted on Twitter. His steroid innuendo was made in response to a New York Times article about body image and female tennis players.

In a NY Times article entitled “Tennis's Top Women Balance Body Image With Ambition”, Ben Rothenberg discusses Williams “large biceps” and “mold-breaking muscular frame”. As the 2015 Wimbledon women's singles champion, it would seem her competitors would want to emulate her successful and muscular physique. According to Rothenberg, most of her rivals choose not to citing “femininity” concerns and the desire to remain a “woman”.

Frum claimed that he was decoding the article as one about the decision to use steroids (to bulk) versus the decision not to use steroids (not to bulk).

“Steroids? Oh no, no, no. 'Body image issues',” tweeted Frum.

“Not to allege against Serena – again I don't know – but she's not above the question. Fans want to know.”

Frum made the comments after Williams defeated Garbiñe Muguruza to win her 21st grand slam title on July 12, 2015. He had no proof but only speculation. Given Frum's position as the senior editor of Atlantic Magazine, a former speechwriter for former POTUS George W. Bush and a neoconservative political television pundit, Frum's steroid innuendo created quite a bit of controversy.

The backlash began almost immediately on Twitter. Frum quickly deleted all of the controversial tweets and claimed he never intended to raise the steroid questions in a public forum. Frum defended himself by saying that he mistakenly posted the messages to the public Twitter timeline instead of using Twitter's direct messaging (DM) system. 

Frum used the controversy as an opportunity secure some television appearances. Roland Martin, the host of T One's weekday morning news show News One Now, invited Frum to appear on the show to explain himself. Frum agreed and went on News One Now the very next day.

“I have no idea whether Serena Williams uses steroids or not,” said Frum. “Look, there is a lot of talk about steroids in Tennis. There has been a lot of talk about other athletes.”

“The New York Times ran a very strange story about body image issues,” Frum continued. “I’m not a big sports fan, but I am a big consumer of news media. Tennis has had large suspicions…when a reporter writes this long story saying this athlete got bulky, I thought, I am going to decode this story.”

Source:

Rothstein, B. (July 13, 2015). Atlantic’s David Frum In Hot Water After Suggesting Serena Williams May Be Doping. Retrieved from http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/13/atlantics-david-frum-in-hot-water-after-suggesting-serena-williams-may-be-doping/