Tennis player sanctioned
Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges that the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has imposed a two-year period of Ineligibility on athlete Max Purcell for the Use and/or Attempted Use of a Prohibited Method. Of this two-year period, six months have been suspended from the sanction, for substantial assistance.
It was determined by the ITIA, that Mr Purcell had received two intravenous infusions of more than a total of 100 mL per 12-hour period (a Prohibited Method under category M2.2 of World Anti-Doping Code – International Standard - Prohibited List 2023) in December 2023.
Mr Purcell has accepted the anti-doping rule violation charge and the Consequences proposed by the ITIA noting that the ITIA allowed for a 25 percent suspension in sanction (being 6 months) for substantial assistance.
Mr Purcell’s sanction commenced on 12 December 2024 (being the date that he accepted a provisional suspension) will expire at 11:59pm on 11 June 2026.
Mr Purcell is ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 12 June 2026. He is also not permitted to compete in a non-signatory professional league, or event organised by a non-signatory International or National level event organisation.
Additional information on the Prohibited Method
The Prohibited List outlines Prohibited Methods which are banned at all times for either:
- their potential to enhance performance in future competitions
- their masking potential.
Prohibited methods are classified as follows:
- Manipulation of blood and blood components
- Chemical and physical manipulation
- Gene and cell doping
