Former Wimbledon doubles champion Max Purcell has been slapped with a suspension. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have come down hard on the 2022 winner after violating the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.
The Australian will find himself on the sidelines until at least mid-2026, after being handed an 18-month ban. His suspension has been backdated to last December when he was first pinged for a potential foul.
The ITIA revealed that in December 2023, Purcell crossed the line by undergoing intravenous infusions exceeding 500 millilitres, landing him in hot water. His sanction was reduced by 25 per cent due to his full cooperation with the ITIA. Post-admission, he opted into a voluntary provisional suspension on December 12, 2024, the same day he got wind of the possible breach.
Now he will also have to forfeit any winnings accumulated from December 16, 2023 – the date of his infringement – up to the day a drug test came back clean on February 3, 2024.
Purcell will be banned from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA. These include the ATP, WTA and ITF as well as any national association.
Karen Moorhouse, chief executive of the ITIA, remarked: “This case does not involve a player testing positive for a prohibited substance but demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that.
“It also shows that the ITIA considers intelligence from a range of sources with the overriding aim to protect everyone covered by the tennis anti-doping rules, and ensure a level playing field for all.”
Speaking out on his anti-doping suspension via Instagram, Purcell said: “This case has been going on for months, seriously affecting my quality of life.
“From being unable to sleep and eat properly, and refusing to be by myself, to developing nervous and anxious tics which I still currently battle day to day.
“I couldn’t sit and enjoy anything without the thought of the case and the endless possibilities of what sanction I would receive. I was nothing but cooperative with the ITIA. I’m so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life.
“The ITIA accepted that the infusion over the 100ml limit was not intentional. It’s a case completely on exceeding the allowable limit of volume for an infusion.
“All substances in the infusion were WADA approved and beyond that, it provided me with zero performance-enhancing benefit. It was 11 days prior to my first match of the season and was also administered as a 24/7 medical facility, in a third world location after feeling unwell and fatigued from training.”
Purcell claimed victory at Wimbledon in 2022 with partner Matthew Ebden and then secured last year’s US Open title alongside fellow Australian Jordan Thompson.
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