- Max Purcell has admitted breaching tennis anti-doping rules
- The two-time Grand Slam winner admitted he was ‘devastated’ by the news
Australian tennis player Max Purcell has opted to enter a voluntary provisional suspension after admitting breaches of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP).
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that the 26-year-old had violated Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, which relates to the ‘use of a prohibited method’.
The ITIA said its provisional suspension would take effect on December 12, 2024, but did not determine how long the ban would last.
Purcell, a two-time Grand Slam doubles winner, also admitted on Instagram that he was ‘devastated’ by the news, revealing the breach occurred when he ‘unknowingly’ received a vitamin transfusion above the ‘allowable limit’. of 100 ml’.
He added that he told the medical staff that he was an athlete and that the IV value should be less than 100 ml.
“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.
Max Purcell has opted to enter a voluntary provisional suspension after admitting to anti-doping rule violations
Purcell made a statement online revealing that he had ‘unknowingly’ been given a transfusion of vitamins above the ‘allowable limit’
‘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.”
Purcell will now be barred from coaching or playing at any authorized or sanctioned event by the ITIA during his provisional suspension.
The ITIA wrote in a statement: ‘The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Australian tennis player Max Purcell has chosen to enter into a voluntary provisional suspension under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP).
The 26-year-old Purcell, currently world number 12 in doubles, has admitted violating Article 2.2 of the TADP regarding the use of a prohibited method, and requested a provisional suspension on December 10, 2024 . .
“The suspension came into effect on December 12, 2024 and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanctions.”
Purcell teamed with Jordan Thompson to reach the doubles final at Wimbledon this year before capturing the men’s doubles title at the US Open, beating Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow.
The Australian won the men’s doubles at WImbledon in 2022 before winning the US Open earlier this year
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.
He previously teamed up with Matt Ebden to win the men’s doubles at Wimbledon in 2022, beating Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the final.
The 26-year-old is one of several players to have been embroiled in controversy with anti-doping authorities this year after Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month ban in November after testing positive for a banned substance.
The ITIA had accepted that Swiatek’s positive tests were the result of contamination with the non-prescription drug melatonin.
Jannik Sinner, who won the men’s singles title at this year’s Australian Open and US Open, is another who made headlines in March after twice testing positive for the banned steroid clostebol.
He was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing by the ITIA, which claimed there was ‘no fault or negligence’ on the part of the Italian.
Shortly after the announcement, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The case will probably not be heard until March 2025.