SYDNEY: Australia’s two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month doping ban, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old in December took a voluntary suspension, describing himself at the time as “devastated” and saying he had not intended to break anti-doping rules.
Purcell has admitted receiving intravenous vitamin infusions of more than 500ml on December 16 and 20, 2023. The limit under the World Anti-Doping Code is 100ml in a 12-hour period.
His ban will end on June 11, 2026, taking into account time served out of the sport.
He will also forfeit results and prize money for the period between December 16, 2023 and February 3, 2024.
Purcell’s co-operation and information sharing with the ITIA allowed for a 25 percent reduction in sanction, it said.
ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said: “This case does not involve a player testing positive for a prohibited substance but demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that.”
Writing on Instagram, Purcell said: “I have accepted the mistake I made and will make sure I’m even more diligent with everything regarding the integrity of the sport.”
Purcell won the 2022 Wimbledon doubles title alongside fellow Australian Matt Ebden and the US Open crown in 2024 with Jordan Thompson.
In his social media post, Purcell said he had been unable to sleep and eat properly because of his worries over the case.
“I’m so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life,” he added.
It is the latest doping controversy in tennis.
Former women’s number one Iga Swiatek is back in action after last year accepting a one-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
Men’s number one Jannik Sinner has been out of action since accepting a three-month doping ban in February after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March last year.
The three-time Grand Slam winner is due to return before the Rome Open, which runs from May 7-18.
Australian doubles player Purcell accepts 18-month doping ban
https://arab.news/8kf8w
Australian doubles player Purcell accepts 18-month doping ban
- Max Purcell has admitted receiving intravenous vitamin infusions of more than 500ml on December 16 and 20, 2023
- The limit under the World Anti-Doping Code is 100ml in a 12-hour period
Pablo Mari joins Al-Hilal from Serie A side Fiorentina
- Former Arsenal defender will bolster the SPL leaders with Kalidou Koulibaly still away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal
RIYADH: Al-Hilal on Sunday offically announced that former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has signed from Serie A side Fiorentina. The player immediately joined his new colleagues in a training session.
The move will bolster Al-Hilal’s defence, with Kalidou Koulibaly still away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, who face Egypt in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.
Mari has played 16 games with Fiorentina in all competitions this season.
“Al-Hilal have signed a contract with Spanish defender Pablo Mari to join Al-Hilal from Italian club Fiorentina on a six-month contract, with an option to extend for another year,” Al-Hilal announced in a statement.
The 32-year-old defender won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2020 and lifted the Copa Libertadores with Brazil’s Flamengo in 2019.
The Spanish centre-half started his career at Mallorca, where he was a product of the club’s youth academy. In 2013, he moved to Gimnastic in the third tier of Spanish football, where he spent three years before Manchester City signed him in August of 2016.
Mari was immediately loaned out to Girona on a one-year deal, and he would also have similar stints at NAC Breda in the Netherlands and Deportivo La Coruna in Spain in the following two campaigns.
The series of loan spells were ended when he joined Flamengo on a permanent deal in 2019, but after a season at the Brazilian club which led to continental success, Mari was loaned out to Arsenal in the January transfer window at the start of 2020.
After winning the FA Cup a few months after joining, the move to the North London club was made permanent. However, his spell at the Emirates led to further loans spells at Udinese and Monza, with the latter securing his services on a full-time basis in May of 2023.
Fiorentina signed Mari in January of 2025 before his latest move to Riyadh was announced.
