Brazilian tennis player Nicolas Zanellato suspended for taking Boldenone without TUE

[vokazu]

ITIA - Brazilian tennis player Nicolas Zanellato provisionally suspended under Tennis Anti-Doping Programme

ITIA - Brazilian tennis player Nicolas Zanellato provisionally suspended under Tennis Anti-Doping Programme

www.itia.tennis

12 September 2024

Brazilian tennis player provisionally suspended under Tennis Anti-Doping Programme​

Nicolas Zanellato tested positive for prohibited substance boldenone in June 2024

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Nicolas Zanellato, a 22-year-old tennis player from Brazil, has been provisionally suspended under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).
The ITIA sent the player a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation on 12 August 2024 under Article 2.1 of the TADP (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and/or Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)).

Zanellato, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 458 in April 2024, provided an in-competition sample while competing in an ATP Challenger event in Ibagué, Colombia, on 25 June 2024.

The sample was split into A and B samples and the subsequent analysis found that the A sample contained boldenone, which is prohibited under the TADP, in the category of Anabolic Agents (section S1 [1.1] of the 2024 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List). Boldenone is a non-Specified Substance, and Zanellato did not possess a valid TUE for the substance. Analysis of the B sample has since confirmed the finding in the A sample.

Findings for non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension – in Zanellato’s case, this has been in effect from 12 August 2024.

On 20 August 2024, Zanellato exercised their right under the TADP to appeal the provisional suspension before an independent tribunal chair. On 22 August 2024, the chair heard oral argument from the player and the ITIA, before dismissing the appeal on the basis that the evidence provided fell “well short” of the required threshold.

While provisionally suspended, Zanellato is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide. 

 

[TennisBro]

another one bites the dust

this is like a competition on the court as well as off the court (in the antidoping office)

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

World #458. The fans are gonna be disappointed.

 

[Sudacafan]

What's in a name?
Nothing bold.

 

[vokazu]

World #458. The fans are gonna be disappointed.

I'm disappointed because my friend is struggling to reach top 500 and he's constantly injured.

 

[LOBALOT]

What's in a name?
Nothing bold.

I was under the impression you are supposed to type all your posts in bold text using Italian/English type phrasing.

The question is if I am English/Italian do I use bold and Italics or Bold Underline?

 

[Bambooman]

I was under the impression you are supposed to type all your posts in bold text using Italian/English type phrasing.

The question is if I am English/Italian do I use bold and Italics or Bold Underline?

If you are Italian you must use Italics. Obviously.

 

[socallefty]

Wonder what excuse he gave - contaminated meat in Colombia or something else like a massage cream perhaps?

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Wonder what excuse he gave - contaminated meat in Colombia or something else like a massage cream perhaps?

Probably the most unbelievable: he was taking a keto MCT supplement that just so happened to be contaminated with roxadustat.

 

[Bartelby]

I thought your claim was that only Russians doped.

Probably the most unbelievable: he was taking a keto MCT supplement that just so happened to be contaminated with roxadustat.

 

[vokazu]

Wonder what excuse he gave - contaminated meat in Colombia or something else like a massage cream perhaps?

Maybe he ate a hamburger that was contaminated with an aquatic beetle.


"Boldenone occurs naturally in the scent gland of Ilybius fenestratus, a species of aquatic beetle.[3]"

 

[vokazu]

History​

[edit]
Ciba reportedly patented boldenone in 1949.[7] It subsequently developed several experimental esters of the drug in the 1950s and 1960s.[7] One of these was boldenone undecylenate, which was introduced for clinical use under the brand name Parenabol and saw some use in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[7] However, it was discontinued before the end of the 1970s.[7] Subsequently, boldenone undecylenate was introduced by Squibb under the brand name Equipose for veterinary use, most commonly in horses.

​

Brand names​

[edit]
Boldenone is marketed as veterinary drug as boldenone undecylenate (a derivative of boldenone) under the following brand names: Boldebal H, Equipoise, and Sybolin.[6] It is marketed as a veterinary combination drug with methandriol under the brand name Drive.[6]

In Ukraine, it is marketed for human consumption as the injectable steroid Boldenol.

 

[Shaolin]

Not a known player so expect a 250 year suspension.

 

[vokazu]

Not a known player so expect a 250 year suspension.

Wow brutal

 

[Fabresque]

Is he World No.1?

No? 2 year suspension imminent.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Wonder what excuse he gave - contaminated meat in Colombia or something else like a massage cream perhaps?

That is a good question and an article offers good insight from an Argentinian:

“Zanellato's doping case is ridiculous. It's a substance found in Colombian beef, and the ATP knows this very well. I played in the same tournament where he tested positive, and I had to go to the supervisor and tell him to send an email to the players not to eat meat because...”

“There were players who didn’t know about it, and I saw a couple of them eating meat. What did the supervisor say to me? 'Ah, you’re right, we have to send it.' Too late! Besides, it’s a substance that doesn’t give any sporting advantage,” the 32-year-old player added.

Having beef is a well known problem in South America, maybe it was indeed the source. As long as WADA doesn’t introduce thresholds you can’t have South American one as a professional athlete without risking a suspension.

In short the story seems plausible but almost impossible to prove. No wonder that he fell ‘well short’ of it. Some posters indulge in the misery of others and can’t comprehend why WADA might be forced to bring its ruleset in line with testing realities.