PUNISHED: Andrei Daescu fined $50K + suspension for illegal substances found on paddle

Good day, picklers.

Today, we're hanging out at the awesome outdoor courts of Sawyer Point in Cincinnati, Ohio. This Queen City might be famous for its unique chili and epic Oktoberfest parties…

…but something in the air tells me the pickleball courts have already begun to take that #1 spot. 😉 (Cincinnati Bengals, who?)

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

• Pickle Talk: Andrei Daescu fined $50K + suspension for illegal substances found on paddle + DUPR Reliability Score, ACTIVATED

• Bite-sized: NYC courts vandalized 3x + Seattle says NO to new courts

• Golden Pickle: Can Ben Johns beat 5.0-ers left-handed?

Let’s get into some PICKLE TALK

ANDREI DAESCU SUSPENDED FOR ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE ON PADDLE

Andrei Daescu just got slapped with a massive $50,000 fine, a 60-day suspension for having an illegal substance on his paddle, and placed on a 1-year probation.

Here’s the scoop: at the Major League Pickleball (MLP) event in Atlanta, Daescu’s paddle was tested by Pickle Pro Labs (May 11th) and found to have a banned substance on its surface.

Back then, MLP came out with a vague statement, not naming the individual.

But the news is out.

What’s wild is that the paddle in question wasn’t even used in the match. It was meant for training purposes only, and according to insiders at The Dink, “it was dropped for testing by someone mistakenly.”

Daescu did admit this much.

End game? The United Pickleball Association (UPA) is showing no mercy, enforcing the rules strictly to keep the game fair. This means Daescu is benched until mid-July, missing out on some key tournaments.

As for the Arizona Drive team losing a player, the only other option is to sign a free agent to the Mid-Season Tournament happening from July 10th through the 14th.

As Tom Webb, CMO of APP, remarked at the recent racquetX Conference, standards and expectations need to be placed on players if the sport is to progress professionally and be taken seriously.

Unfortunately for Andrei, his situation is exactly what he was talking about.

DUPR LAUNCHES RELIABITY SCORE

DUPR just dropped a game-changer: the DUPR Reliability Score.

Here’s the scoop: the Reliability Score digs into your match history and consistency, updating in real-time to give you the most reliable feedback on your performance. It’s all about clarity and accuracy, letting you know where you really stand amongst the sea of players.

It’s simple really: the number will be shown as a % and will determine how confident DUPR is about your DUPR rating based on the data recorded in their system.

What does that mean? Cheaters, fraudsters, you’re days of playin’ the system are over.

Looking at the numbers: you’ll have to hit at least a reliability score of 60% in order to be considered “a reliable player.”

Think…a credit score for players. Newer players will start with lower scores, and vice versa. Scores will decay overtime if new matches are not played and logged, as DUPR ratings place more weight on recent matches.

Reliability scores will be updated weekly on Tuesdays.

Why does it matter? Because a more accurate rating boosts your confidence and helps you plan your game strategy better. With the DUPR Reliability Score, you get a clearer picture of your progress and what you need to work on.

BITE-SIZED PICKLES

1/ BIG APPLE VANDAL ALERT: Sad week for the picklers at Riverside Park in the concrete jungle of NYC. Over the last week, someone’s been on a mission to trash the place, hitting it up not one but THREE different times. The damage? We’re talking nets torn apart, equipment scattered everywhere (i.e., total chaos). The community’s pretty bummed out, especially since they had to spend hours fixing everything only to find it messed up again the next day. While the Parks Department and police are on it, trying to figure out who’s behind these shenanigans, there is no clear motive yet, but it looks like someone just wanted to cause some trouble.

2/ NO PICKLEBALL, SEATTLE: Pickleball is a NO-GO for West Seattle pickleball players. BOO. Here’s the deal: Plans for new courts in Lincoln Park were canned after residents complained about potential noise and light issues. BUT there is a dim light at the end of the tunnel: Seattle Parks and Rec is back to the drawing board, searching for a new spot that won’t disturb the local wildlife.

3/ SKIN IN THE GAME: Cetaphil, you know it. The blue-accented bottle face wash you buy in bulk at Costco on discount because it is essential but also costs an arm and a leg anywhere else. Well, the skincare brand just upped their skincare game with a splashy new ad campaign featuring pickleball’s elite female pros Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau, Anna Bright, and Hurricane Tyra Black. Watch it here.

4/ OFFICIALS OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: USA Pickleball just scored a major win by teaming up with the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO). This epic partnership means nearly 1,000 pickleball officials in the U.S. are getting awesome perks like reduced membership fees and a special pickleball page on NASO's site. Plus, USA Pickleball is throwing its support behind the annual Sports Officiating Summit in Atlanta. It’s all about taking the game to the next level and showing our officials some love. Game on!

GOLDEN PICKLE, ANYONE?

1/ BREAKING: World #1 pickleball player Ben Johns & his brother lose to 5.0 pickleball players.

BUT JOOLA, WAIT. Don’t toss his $$$ sponsorship out just yet.

Pro player Zane Navratil released a YouTube video of the Johns brothers playing with a bit of a twist:

A left-handed twist.

And man, was it entertaining.

If you’ve got a good 20-ish minutes to watch these pros do some damage with their non-dominant hands against some skilled 5.0-ers, then sit back, relax, and be entertained.

Winner, winner, pickle dinner.

2/ Scenario setup: It’s been a long 10-hour work day and you are getting ready to end the day with a 2-hour session of pickleball at your park courts.

The problem? You’re in dire need of a boost of energy to get through a rematch game against your nemesis brought on by the crying skies of Seattle, Washington.

Well, lucky for you, there’s a new pre-workout for pickleball players on the market: FLOWKAPS.

For $39.75 a bottle, this “pre-workout for pickleball” aims to “enhance Reaction, Focus, Vision, and Energy while on the courts.”

One word: Interesting.
Verdict: Sticking to coffee. 

If you try it, please…enlighten us.

ICYMI…A Pickle Talk Rewind