No Fault or Negligence in Brazilian tennis player’s anti-doping case

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Brazilian tennis player Nicolas Zanellato is free to return to play, having provided evidence to satisfy the ITIA that their positive sample for the prohibited substance boldenone came as a result of consuming contaminated meat in Colombia.

Following an investigation, which included interviews, review of detailed documentation, and advice from independent WADA-approved scientists, the ITIA found that Zanellato bore No Fault or Negligence for their Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

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 at an estimated concentration of 5.1 ng/mL, which is prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, 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 confirmed the finding in the A sample.

Zanellato has been provisionally suspended since 12 August 2024, having unsuccessfully appealed its imposition before an independent tribunal chair on 22 August 2024.

Since then, Zanellato subsequently obtained further evidence and documentation in support of their case – which included detailed receipts, and information on the source of meat consumed during a number of visits to an independent restaurant outside of the tournament environment. The ITIA conducted its own parallel investigation into the circumstances, and the explanation was verified as plausible by independent scientific experts.

Following precedent in similar recent cases from other World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sports, the ITIA issued a decision of No Fault or Negligence on 18 February 2025. Zanellato is free to return to play from the date of the written decision.

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

Ends

South American. Contaminated meat. Clear of all negligence. Provisional from 8/2024 to 02/2025 due to unsuccessful appeal. Since then providing evd. No ban at the end.

I guess no preferential treatment
 
the prohibited substance boldenone came as a result of consuming contaminated meat in Colombia.
The anti-doping agency's gona have a lot at hand when other players come with their claims of eating their shares of tainted foods that are everywhere abundant nowadays.
 
Just lends more credence to the obvious theory that Sinner had a pre planned excuse.
Your prejudice is strong. The physio wasn’t aware but the pharmacist knows. Obv they would identify the negligence fast. They f up bad. Totally malpractice. Line 38, 39, 40 in the proceedings.

Can we speak about the contaminated meat cases and how inconsistent things have been?
 
This case is similar to the Chinese swimmers over which the US pulled its financial support to WADA.

Who knows how a financially-strapped WADA will operate if faced with penury?
 
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Brazilian tennis player Nicolas Zanellato is free to return to play, having provided evidence to satisfy the ITIA that their positive sample for the prohibited substance boldenone came as a result of consuming contaminated meat in Colombia.

Following an investigation, which included interviews, review of detailed documentation, and advice from independent WADA-approved scientists, the ITIA found that Zanellato bore No Fault or Negligence for their Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

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 at an estimated concentration of 5.1 ng/mL, which is prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, 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 confirmed the finding in the A sample.

Ends

Great news for the player. Shows again the risk of eating meat in South America and how long it takes to push through the process with that kind of contamination. The sheer amount of such cases jams up the system and shows how necessary thresholds are. Until their introduction it is quite risky for players to have more challengers and thus more testing in SA...

South American. Contaminated meat. Clear of all negligence. Provisional from 8/2024 to 02/2025 due to unsuccessful appeal. Since then providing evd. No ban at the end.

I guess no preferential treatment

Thanks for providing an update on the treatment of a lesser known player. Happy that I furthered knowledge Bortolotti and Battaglino cases, but some love to ignore all the evidence which upsets their little conspiracy world.
 
But, Zanellato was immediately suspended after positive test, unlike Sinner who was allowed to play after tested positive twice, and the positive test results were kept secret several months.

Different player, different treatment.

There was no "Sinner was provisionally suspended after tested positive" news at all. Sinner was allowed to play. Zanellato was not allowed to play after tested positive.

 
But, Zanellato was immediately suspended after positive test, unlike Sinner who was allowed to play after tested positive twice, and the positive test results were kept secret several months.

Different player, different treatment.

There was no "Sinner was provisionally suspended after tested positive" news at all. Sinner was allowed to play. Zanellato was not allowed to play after tested positive.

But... but....

Yawn.....

Were in both cases the rules follow for appealing provisional suspensions? If not, which rule was violated?
Were in both cases the rules on disclosure followed? If not, which rule was violated?
 
Sinner got a sweetheart deal from beginning to the end. The only reason for the settlement was to stop others from benefiting from the "agents excuse".

But, Zanellato was immediately suspended after positive test, unlike Sinner who was allowed to play after tested positive twice, and the positive test results were kept secret several months.

Different player, different treatment.

There was no "Sinner was provisionally suspended after tested positive" news at all. Sinner was allowed to play. Zanellato was not allowed to play after tested positive.

 
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Brazilian tennis player Nicolas Zanellato is free to return to play, having provided evidence to satisfy the ITIA that their positive sample for the prohibited substance boldenone came as a result of consuming contaminated meat in Colombia.
Assuming all the facts related are true, well, good. This is another great example of each case being treated individually as they all should be. It's nice to see a body with the authority to affect an individual's career investigate with integrity and wisdom. Great job ITIA!
 
So USADA lobbied the US Government to cut funding for WADA and, as a result, WADA has dropped its almost certain to be successful defamation action to make peace.

It looks like USADA is a hyper-politicised organisation and probably far worse, in that regard, to WADA.
 
So USADA lobbied the US Government to cut funding for WADA and, as a result, WADA has dropped its almost certain to be successful defamation action to make peace.

It looks like USADA is a hyper-politicised organisation and probably far worse, in that regard, to WADA.
USA gives WADA a million dollars a year. It is crazy they pissed off USADA. The American sports have their own drug system and it is not even as stringent as WADA. Recently there is an nba player that got suspended for tramadol usage which is kind of hilarious too because it is like an opioid like pain med.
 
After all the backlash created by WADA on sinner’s case, one shouldn’t be surprised with this verdict from ITIA…
 
That's why I argue that tennis should rid itself of WADA, but the reality is that the USA likes WADA for the rest of the world even if domestic sports reject it.

It's the non-banning of Chinese swimmers that the USA and USADA are upset about and behaving vindictively over, so sports like tennis don't need this meddling.

USA gives WADA a million dollars a year. It is crazy they pissed off USADA. The American sports have their own drug system and it is not even as stringent as WADA. Recently there is an nba player that got suspended for tramadol usage which is kind of hilarious too because it is like an opioid like pain med.
 
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