Australia’s two-time doubles grand-slam winner Max Purcell has been provisionally suspended over an alleged violation of tennis’ anti-doping program.
The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) introduced on Monday that Purcell had voluntarily accepted the suspension, after admitting to a breach regarding a prohibited technique.
Purcell, the world No.12 doubles participant, elected to simply accept the provisional suspension earlier this month, ruling him out of taking part in or teaching at any ATP and ITF occasions, together with the 4 majors.
It means the 26-year-old will at this stage not be capable to compete on the Australian Open, months after profitable the US Open doubles title alongside compatriot Jordan Thompson in September.
Purcell issued an announcement on Instagram saying he had “unknowingly acquired an IV infusion of nutritional vitamins above the allowable restrict of 100 ml”.
He mentioned he had advised the medical clinic concerned the infusion wanted to be under 100ml since he was an expert athlete, however that the medical information he was given later confirmed he had been given greater than that stage.
“This information was devastating to me as a result of I delight myself on being an athlete who at all times makes certain that all the things is WADA secure,” Purcell wrote.
“I volunteered this data to the ITIA and have been as clear as doable in making an attempt to place this complete state of affairs behind me.
“I look ahead to being again on the court docket quickly.”
The ITIA has not but specified the size of the ban Purcell was doubtlessly dealing with, or the main points of the breach apart from it being a prohibited technique. He may very well be suspended for as a lot as two years.
“Purcell … has admitted to a breach of Article 2.2 of the TADP regarding the usage of a Prohibited Methodology, and requested to enter right into a provisional suspension on 10 December 2024,” the ITIA mentioned in an announcement.
“The suspension got here into impact on 12 December 2024, and time served below provisional suspension can be credited towards any future sanction.
“Through the provisional suspension, Purcell is prohibited from taking part in in, teaching at, or attending any tennis occasion authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Federation Francaise de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any nationwide affiliation.”
In an announcement, Tennis Australia (TA) careworn that the breach associated to a prohibited technique, fairly than the usage of a prohibited substance.
“Max Purcell has admitted to a breach of the tennis anti-doping programme and entered a voluntary provisional suspension from 12 December,” TA mentioned.
Max Purcell. (Picture by Clive Mason/Getty Photos)
“The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) confirmed the breach pertains to the usage of a Prohibited Methodology, fairly than the presence of a prohibited substance.
“Because the matter is at the moment below investigation, it’s inappropriate to remark additional right now.”
The ITIA are the identical governing physique that levelled fees towards world No.1s Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, attributable to breaches of the anti-doping program.
Males’s No.1 Sinner examined optimistic twice for an anabolic steroid in March, however prevented a ban as a result of the ITIA decided he was to not blame.
Ladies’s counterpart Swiatek additionally managed to simply accept a one-month suspension in November for testing optimistic to the banned substance trimetazidine.
In an announcement, the ITIA mentioned they might not touch upon the specifics of the accusations levelled towards Purcell.
Previous to profitable the US Open final yr, Purcell additionally claimed the 2022 Wimbledon crown alongside fellow Australia Matthew Ebden.
Purcell additionally reached the second spherical of the singles draw ultimately yr’s Australian Open, however had not been handed a Tennis Australia wildcard for subsequent month’s occasion.
He was additionally not listed on the entry listing for the qualifying match.
© AAP