Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has claimed tennis was ‘in the mud’ after it was announced another player had breached anti-doping rules on Monday.
Max Purcell admitted breaching Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, relating to the ‘use of a prohibited method’.
The 26-year-old is now serving a voluntary provisional suspension, which came into effect on December 12. Purcell stated on Instagram that he had ‘unknowingly’ received a vitamin transfusion that exceeded the ‘allowable limit of 100ml’.
His suspension comes after Grand Slam winners Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner were both embroiled in doping controversies earlier this year, with the former handed a one-month ban.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has also appealed a decision by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which found Sinner was ‘not at fault or negligent’ after twice testing positive for the banned substance clostebol. A decision on that appeal is not expected until next year.
Kyrgios has now spoken out about the situation of both players. In particular, he claimed that the ITIA’s decision not to suspend Sinner was “ridiculous.” He later announced that he was keen to fight the Italian upon his return from injury.
Nick Kyrgios has spoken out about recent doping controversies in tennis after another Grand Slam winner was suspended on Monday
Kyrgios wrote to
Purcell has opted to enter a voluntary provisional suspension after admitting to anti-doping rule violations
On Monday, the 29-year-old Australian, who previously called the sport ‘boiled’ after Swiatek’s suspension, once again took to X to express his views on recent doping suspensions.
“Gosh, our sport is in the mud right now,” Kyrgios wrote on Monday after the announcement that Purcell had been suspended.
It is not yet known how long Purcell will be away, but the Australian tennis player, a two-time Grand Slam doubles winner, said on Instagram that he was “devastated” by the news.
“As announced today by the ITIA, I have voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension because I unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins in excess of the permitted limit of 100 ml,” Purcell wrote on Instagram.
‘Until I received medical records from a clinic last week showing that the amount of an infusion I had received was more than 100ml, I was completely convinced that I had done everything I could to ensure I passed WADA regulations and methods had been followed.
‘But the records show that the infusion was above the 100 ml limit, even though I told the medical clinic that I was a professional athlete and that the infusion should be less than 100 ml.
‘This news was devastating to me as I pride myself on being an athlete who always ensures everything is WADA safe. I have voluntarily provided this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in my effort to put this entire situation behind me. I’m looking forward to being back on the track soon.”
Kyrgios, meanwhile, is on the verge of returning from a spate of injuries that has seen him play just one league match in the past two years.
Purcell made a statement online revealing that he had ‘unknowingly’ been given a transfusion of vitamins above the ‘allowable limit’
In a statement on his Instagram, Purcell said he was “devastated” by the news, adding that he had told medical professionals he needed an IV injection of less than 100ml.
But he has been vocal about his criticism of the ITIA’s decision to release Sinner.
“You will be tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… You should be away for 2 years,” Kyrgios had written on X.
He later doubled down on these statements, telling ESPN via Nine: ‘I have to stand up for everything I put on social media.
“I have seen many of my friends face doping cases and get suspended. We’ve seen players like (Simona) Halep or Jenson Brooksby – players who have had their careers taken away. It seems like every time one of these things comes up, there’s always a different process for different players.
“I think he was on his own terms most of the time. I don’t think that’s fair and equal for the rest of the tours.
‘Every physio who is employed by a player, but also every player… we receive a list of prohibited substances every year.
The Australian tennis star has doubled down on his criticism on social media, adding: ‘Everything I put on social media I have to stand up for’
The ITIA ruled that Sinner had ‘no fault or negligence’ after his positive tests, but WADA has appealed their decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
‘On page five it says ‘Always prohibited’. If there is a clarification, we need to get a definition of what ‘Prohibited at all times’ means. I’m pretty sure that means regardless of the amount and whether it shows up… that means you tested positive.
“Why his team carries a banned substance that we know is completely unnecessary in sport is another question in itself.”
However, the Australian tennis star stated that the comments were not a direct criticism of Sinner’s character.
‘It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. He is one of the best tennis players we have at the moment. I don’t deny that. Nothing against him personally,” Kyrgios said.
‘I’m definitely not going to be as warm and welcoming as I used to be. I just want a level playing field for everyone. That’s what this fight is for.
“I was tested in my hotels two days ago. We are tested consistently. This is a sport I have practiced all my life. “If the playing field is not the same for everyone, you lose a little bit of the integrity of the sport.”