German tennis player Alexander Zeverff has complained that he was not allowed to receive his insulin injections at the French Open (Roland Garros), the second Grand Slam tennis.
Zeverf has been suffering from diabetes since he was three years old, according to the French network "RMC Sport".
Until his last match against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round of the tournament, Zeverev was not granted an exemption in order to be allowed to receive insulin injections.
"The referee told me that if I were to go off the pitch now it would be considered a break to use the bathroom," Zeverev said after the game.
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"I told them there were two restrooms to use the toilet in the game but for 5-set matches (like in the Grand Slams) I have to inject myself with insulin 4 or 5 times, and that's very necessary for my health."
"My life would really be in danger if I didn't do it, but they said it sounds strange (getting the shot on the court) this discussion doesn't make sense," the German tennis player explained.
Zeverff believes tournament officials are not making it easy for him.
He explained: "One of the tournament officials came to me in the dressing room while I was about to inject myself with insulin, and he told me you can't do that, you need a doctor! I told him that the discussion is not important now because what I am doing is necessary to control diabetes."
"They kept telling me, 'It's weird,' and I said to them out loud, 'Do you think I'm doping?'"
In the fourth round, Zeverev beat Grigor Dimitrov in 3 consecutive sets.