Australian tennis star and two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has voluntarily accepted a suspension for breaching anti-doping regulations.
The 26-year-old, currently ranked 12th in the world for doubles, admitted to violating rules related to the use of a “prohibited method,” according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
The ITIA confirmed that Purcell requested to enter into a provisional suspension on December 10, with the ban officially taking effect two days later, on December 12. While specifics about the prohibited method have not been disclosed, Tennis Australia emphasized that the breach involved a method rather than a substance.
“The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the breach relates to the use of a prohibited method, rather than the presence of a prohibited substance,” read a statement from Tennis Australia.
Under the terms of his suspension, Purcell is barred from participating in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized by the sport’s governing bodies or national associations. This means he will be unable to compete in the upcoming Australian Open, one of the biggest tournaments of the year, scheduled to begin on January 12 in Melbourne.
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Purcell’s suspension marks a major interruption in an otherwise stellar career. He first captured global attention in 2022 when he and compatriot Matt Ebden won the doubles title at Wimbledon. More recently, he partnered with Jordan Thompson to clinch the US Open doubles title in 2023, further solidifying his reputation as one of the sport’s top doubles players.
Despite this setback, Purcell’s decision to voluntarily accept the suspension could allow him to minimize potential penalties. According to the ITIA, “Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction.”
The ITIA has been at the forefront of tennis anti-doping enforcement and has handled several high-profile cases this year. Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the world’s top-ranked player, faced charges after testing positive twice for traces of the steroid clostebol in March. Although he was exonerated, the World Anti-Doping Agency has since appealed the decision, and a final ruling is pending.
Similarly, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the world number two, tested positive for a banned heart medication in August. The ITIA determined that her violation was unintentional, resulting in a relatively lenient one-month sanction. Both Sinner and Swiatek are expected to compete in the Australian Open, unlike Purcell, whose suspension rules him out of the tournament.
AFP