[Torsten von Bayern]

Adham,

you are right that you deserve more feedback on YOUR questions, in view of your numerous answers and comments.

Therefore I'd like to provide some experience (and one question ...) regarding testing against speed glue on the regional levels of the DTTB. My example comes from the Bavarian Tabletennis Association, where we (Board and URC) are trying to enforce rules on a regional level as follows.

Here, the use of the ENEZ device has by now been implemented in the six highest leagues down from the Bundesliga. We have worked out a testing concept based on sampling, where initially the matches subject to testing were drawn by lot and, with the season proceeding, more weight will be given to the "bad guys" detected and to defining matches. We are six racket controllers, all being International and National Umpires, constantly exchanging test results and players' feedbacks. On all regional levels, our joint result up to now is:
- The vast majority of all ENEZ results is "green".
- Almost all players appreciate the procedure as a contribution to fairness.
- No time delays or other interruptions of play are recognized.
- On the other hand, players are definitely hoping for even stronger procedures covering tuners and boosters. It is the players' firm belief that, whereas most players have refrained from speed gluing, many of them just replaced it by tuning.
- My feeling as an umpire and racket controller is that no issue, not even the ever-discussed enforcement of the service laws, has ever drawn more attention than the "new" banning rules.

Backed by this experience, the concept is about to be extended down to county level, including tournaments. Using above selection methods, this should be possible. Moreover, teams at any level have always been given the possibility to order a referee (if none by default) for a match they feel uncomfortable with - and so are they now, regarding an ENEZ test.

The booster/tuner matter of course is still unresolved, but this is already being discussed widely enough, so I don't have to add something.

I just would find a short comment valuable, if our efforts for deep-dive testing are in the sense of ITTF's overall concept, or if there is a certain stage from which on you'd think a control procedure may be exaggerated. Thank you very much in advance.