Max Purcell takes voluntary provisional suspension after admitting to breach of doping rules

Australian tennis player Max Purcell, a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, has accepted a voluntary provisional suspension under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme for a breach of doping rules, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Monday.

The ITIA said that Purcell had admitted to the breach himself and requested to enter into a provisional suspension on December 10. The suspension came into effect on December 12.

Purcell, currently ranked No 12 in the world in doubles and No 105 in singles, won the US Open this year with countryman Jordan Thompson. He also won Wimbledon with fellow Aussie Matthew Ebden in 2022 and reached the final of the Australian Open doubles in 2020 and 2022.

This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe.

In a statement released on social media, Purcell said he was devastated to learn about the breach, which he himself informed the ITIA about.

“As announced by the ITIA today, I have voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension since I unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins above the allowable limit of 100 m,” Purcell said in his post. 

“Until last week when I received medical records from a clinic showing that the amount of an IV I had received was above 100 ml, I was fully convinced that I had done everything to ensure that I had followed the WADA regulations and methods. But the records show that the IV was over that 100ml limit, even though I told the medical clinic that I was a professional athlete and needed the IV to be below 100 ml.”

The duration of the suspension has yet to be announced by the ITIA but it will begin on December 12, the date the Australian agreed to enter provisional suspension. Purcell ended the note by saying that he hopes to be back on the court soon.

“This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe. I volunteered this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this whole situation behind me. I look forward to being back on the court soon.”

You might also like this

“I’m on two strikes — I hate the rule” – Kokkinakis disapproves of strict anti-doping measures

tennis majors

Sinner “disappointed and surprised” as WADA challenges ITIA’s decision in doping case

tennis majors

Swiatek accepts one-month ban for positive test due to unintentional contamination

tennis majors

Swiatek drugs case leaves leading players fearful of similar fate

tennis majors