Purcell admits that he violated the sport’s anti-doping rules with a “prohibited method”. The Australian’s temporary suspension began on December 12.
Australian tennis grand slam winner Max Purcell is on the sidelines for the time being due to a doping violation.
ITIA, the body that monitors the ethics of tennis, said that Purcell admitted to violating the sport’s anti-doping rules with a “prohibited method”. Purcell’s temporary suspension began on December 12. ITIA did not provide any other details about the incident.
Purcell said on his Instagram account that he “unknowingly” received too many vitamins in his body. Purcell had received vitamins by drip, i.e. intravenous treatment, more than the allowed limit of 100 milliliters.
Purcell, 26, is a two-time grand slam winner in men’s doubles. He celebrated the championship at Wimbledon 2022 and the US Open this fall. In the men’s doubles world rankings, Purcell is currently ranked 12th, and in the singles ranking he has been at the best 40th place. In last summer’s Wimbledon final, he lost with his partner For Harri Heliövaara and To Henry Patten.
The Australian Tennis Association pointed out in its statement that Purcell’s doping scandal is related to a prohibited method rather than using a prohibited substance. The union did not comment further, referring to the investigation of the case.
ITIA has given doping penalties to the top player in the men’s world rankings this year For Jannik Sinner and for the women’s ranking number two For Iga Swiatekbut the punishments have been mild. ITIA did not ban Sinner from competing in August, even though the Italian had given two doping test samples containing the steroid clostebol in March.
The World Anti-Doping Agency Wada has filed a complaint.
Swiatek, who was number one in the world rankings for a long time, gave a doping sample containing the heart medication trimetazidine in August, and the Polish star was banned from competition for one month in November. ITIA considered that Swiatek had not used the substance in question knowingly.