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Australian tennis player Max Purcell has received an 18-month suspension due to violations of anti-doping regulations, a situation he described as having significantly impacted his well-being.
Purcell was provisionally suspended in December 2024 and admitted to utilizing a “prohibited method” by receiving over 500ml of intravenous vitamins on two occasions, December 16 and December 20, 2023.
At 27 years old, Purcell has achieved major successes, winning titles at Wimbledon in 2022 and the US Open in 2024, but he did not test positive for any banned substances during this case.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) clarified that the maximum allowed under the World Anti-Doping Code and the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP) is 100ml within a 12-hour timeframe.
After a thorough investigation, which involved collecting evidence and interviewing Purcell, the ITIA reported that he acknowledged his breaches. His cooperation allowed for a 25% reduction in his ban.
Considering the time already served, Purcell’s suspension is set to conclude on June 11, 2026.
In a social media update, Purcell expressed relief at the resolution of the situation, stating, “I can move on with my life.” He elaborated on the toll the case had taken on his mental health, describing struggles to sleep and eat, as well as feelings of anxiety that lingered throughout the process.
He reflected, “I couldn’t sit and enjoy anything without the thought of the case and the endless possibilities of what sanction I would receive.” Purcell emphasized that he had been fully cooperative with the ITIA during the investigation.
Additionally, Purcell will lose results and prize money earned from the date of his initial violation on December 16, 2023, until his first negative drug test on February 3, 2024.
Karen Moorhouse, the ITIA’s chief executive, noted that while this case did not involve a positive test, it underscores the comprehensive nature of anti-doping regulations, stating, “It demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that.” She highlighted the ITIA’s commitment to maintaining integrity within the sport and ensuring fair competition.
This incident follows a series of anti-doping cases in tennis, including a one-month ban issued to five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek for testing positive for a banned substance. Additionally, world number one Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month suspension after a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency concerning two positive drug tests in the previous year. Sinner is expected to return for the Italian Open, set to take place in Rome next week.
Source
www.bbc.com