Wimbledon winner Purcell suspended for anti-doping violation

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
Purcell seems to have used a ‘Prohibitated Method’:

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Australian tennis player Max Purcell has elected to enter into a voluntary provisional suspension under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).

26-year-old Purcell, currently ranked world number 12 in doubles, has admitted to a breach of Article 2.2 of the TADP relating to the use of a Prohibited Method, and requested to enter into a provisional suspension on 10 December 2024. The suspension came into effect on 12 December 2024, and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction.

Very little to work with that one. A little bit more from the BBC:

Tennis Australia say the ITIA have confirmed the breach related to a prohibited method "rather than the presence of a prohibited substance".
The ITIA charged men's world number one Jannik Sinner and women's world number two Iga Swiatek over breaches of its anti-doping programme earlier this year.
 
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Subway Tennis

G.O.A.T.
I think he knows he is going to get pinged pretty hard for this. May as well start volunteering to burn off as much of the suspension time as he can while he can’t be playing anyway.

I wonder where he got the therapies? Georgia? Turkey? Kuwait?
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
I think he knows he is going to get pinged pretty hard for this. May as well start volunteering to burn off as much of the suspension time as he can while he can’t be playing anyway.

Sadly it doesn’t look good and this might be the best course of action for him. Infusion of vitamins is obviously a conscious choice.

I wonder where he got the therapies? Georgia? Turkey? Kuwait?

No idea but here we have his statement:

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 ml. 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. 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.

For clinics 80ml or 120ml of vitamin infusion doesn’t really change too much, but for an athlete is the difference between something legal and a long ban. Ideally they would avoid such infusions, but maybe limit it at least personally to 50ml and have a more professional staff. Miscommunication might also have been the case, but it looks quite grim for him.
 

vokazu

Legend
What a guy. He could've tried to defend himself that he had told the clinic that the IV vitamins must not exceed 100ml and the clinic went above 100ml.

He really has the decency to request a voluntary suspension.





"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 ml. 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. 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."
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
I wonder how that paperwork on the IV level came to find its way to WADA? Was it sourced and presented to them after a testing result as an explanation for a tested level of something specific?

That is the smart question which I didn’t want to raise, at least before having more info.

I guess too that a doping test offered clues of an infusion and ITIA wanted to have the medical records of it, as there are various limits and risks associated with such a choice. He got the record, which showed that he breached an anti-doing rule.

No chance to avoid a provisional suspension and the risk of a long ban…
 
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Subway Tennis

G.O.A.T.
If he was based in Georgia it seems like such a clever “home away from home” for an Aussie. Very low cost of living compared to most of Europe and probably puts him close to many tour events. I think a lot of pros lived in Bulgaria for similar reasons. Slightly hectic geographic region at the moment, though.

I’m really interested in where he got the therapies. I don’t know how much is really in the public interest and how much is just perverse curiosity.
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
If he was based in Georgia it seems like such a clever “home away from home” for an Aussie. Very low cost of living compared to most of Europe and probably puts him close to many tour events. I think a lot of pros lived in Bulgaria for similar reasons. Slightly hectic geographic region at the moment, though.

Georgia is gorgeous and the capital very international. I reckon good dating possibilities too for a young athlete.

I’m really interested in where he got the therapies. I don’t know how much is really in the public interest and how much is just perverse curiosity.

Might have been in a country not speaking native English. As an athlete, you should probably try to have a large safety margin. Target maybe 75 or something, if you feel the need to have an infusion…
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
Has Kyrgios commented yet on his fellow Aussie? Will he be tough on him like he was on Sinner?

His hatred is naturally directed by emotion and not logic. Sadly for Purcell his case looks worse if viewed through the lense of the ITIA than the recent contaminations of Bartunkova, Swiatek and Sinner.

Bartunkova ingested a supplement, Siwatek a regulated non-prescription medication, which explains the shorter suspension of the Polish player. Both thus got no significant fault or negligence. Sinner no negligence because he was contaminated through the physio which had treated himself with said cream.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
His hatred is naturally directed by emotion and not logic. Sadly for Purcell his case looks worse if viewed through the lense of the ITIA than the recent contaminations of Bartunkova, Swiatek and Sinner.

Bartunkova ingested a supplement, Siwatek a regulated non-prescription medication, which explains the shorter suspension of the Polish player. Both thus got no significant fault or negligence. Sinner no negligence because he was contaminated through the physio which had treated himself with said cream.

Nonsense. Those are all sloppy decisions on the part of the players.

Which is why WADA issued its appeal in the Sinner case and gave Swiatek a ban.
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
Nonsense. Those are all sloppy decisions on the part of the players.

Which is why WADA issued its appeal in the Sinner case and gave Swiatek a ban

I would be very careful before using the world nonsense, especially if you answer with a clear factual error. WADA didn't give Siwatek a ban, the ITIA did. Better inform yourself before posting...

IV infusions are included on the Prohibited List mainly because some athletes could use this Prohibited Method to:
a) enhance their performance by increasing plasma volume levels;
b) mask the use of a Prohibited Substance;
c) distort the values of their Athlete Biological Passport.
Infusions or injections of 100 ml or less within a 12-hour period are permitted unless the
infused/injected substance is on the Prohibited List.

Here we have the major reasons why we have those guidelines for infusions. Not a good look that a professional tennis players gets infusions, reminds me of the bad old days in cycling...
 
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LOBALOT

Legend
I would be very careful before using the world nonsense, especially if you answer with a clear factual error. WADA didn't give Siwatek a ban, the ITIA did. Better inform yourself before posting...



Here we have the major reasons why we have those guidelines for infusions. Not a good look that a professional tennis players gets infusions, reminds me of the bad old days in cycling...

They didn't ban her. They said she could not play during the offseason which is like punishing your kid for not doing their chores by telling them "No chores for a month"

They would look at you with a sideways smirk and say... "OK"
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
This whole banning thing is turning into like the latest fashion trend that has just come out of Paris and its the hip cool thing going on right now...
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
I would be very careful before using the world nonsense, especially if you answer with a clear factual error. WADA didn't give Siwatek a ban, the ITIA did. Better inform yourself before posting...



Here we have the major reasons why we have those guidelines for infusions. Not a good look that a professional tennis players gets infusions, reminds me of the bad old days in cycling...

True, I should have distinguished between the Sinner case and the Swiatek case.

Still, to limit Kyrgios to hating Sinner is also pretty poor logic. And Purcell's case doesn't look worse per se.
 

TennisBro

Hall of Fame
That is the smart question which I didn’t want to raise, at least before having more info.

I guess too that a doping test offered clues of an infusion and ITIA wanted to have the medical records of it, as there are various limits and risks associated with such a choice. He got the record, which showed that he breached an anti-doing rule.

No chance to avoid a provisional suspension and the risk of a long ban…
Players in some places may get food poisoning. Futures in, for example, Tunisia offer accommodation with meals throughout the stay.There have been reports of players getting sick from food. Just imagine how one well prepared player may end up as unready and dehydrated soul requiring immediate nutrition. The issue of vitamins is as complex as the ITF juristiction over individual tournaments is. The fact that the antidoping body is flexing its muscle is further complicating the problems on the tennis players' tour.
 

Rovesciarete

Hall of Fame
True, I should have distinguished between the Sinner case and the Swiatek case.

Still, to limit Kyrgios to hating Sinner is also pretty poor logic. And Purcell's case doesn't look worse per se.

No lasting hurt done, appreciate your answer. I don’t like the fact that a healthy athlete gets infusions, if not for rare medical cases. There is a long history of doping associated with it and while I give Purcell the benefit of the doubt, troubled cycling has come down hard on the use of needles for good reasons.
 

Robert F

Hall of Fame
IV infusions are included on the Prohibited List mainly because some athletes could use this Prohibited Method to:
a) enhance their performance by increasing plasma volume levels;
b) mask the use of a Prohibited Substance;
c) distort the values of their Athlete Biological Passport.
Infusions or injections of 100 ml or less within a 12-hour period are permitted unless the
infused/injected substance is on the Prohibited List.

Based on the above, the cynic in me wonders if Purcell was hoping to take control of the narrative. Admit you got too much IV and settle for a punishment. Because if he didn't would they hunt for what substance he may be trying to hide?
Still 120mL seems like it would have litte effec to truly do A, B or C. I'm hoping some science is behind the 100mL limit. Which seems fairly low.
 

norcal

Legend
Max needs to hire Jackie Chiles -

"My client is not guilty, this is a case of Infusion Confusion! My client booked Amtrak to Atlanta but instead they put him on a Midnight Train to Georgia! The inability to ID the IV is outrageous, egregious, preposterous! It's a travesty of justice, a clear violation of his rights, and this is the most public yet of many humiliations Max has been subjected to!"
 

ey039524

Hall of Fame
Max needs to hire Jackie Chiles -

"My client is not guilty, this is a case of Infusion Confusion! My client booked Amtrak to Atlanta but instead they put him on a Midnight Train to Georgia! The inability to ID the IV is outrageous, egregious, preposterous! It's a travesty of justice, a clear violation of his rights, and this is the most public yet of many humiliations Max has been subjected to!"
That was on point. There should be a Jackie Chiles translator: type in your text and it spits out his translation. I wonder if chat gpt can do this.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
No lasting hurt done, appreciate your answer. I don’t like the fact that a healthy athlete gets infusions, if not for rare medical cases. There is a long history of doping associated with it and while I give Purcell the benefit of the doubt, troubled cycling has come down hard on the use of needles for good reasons.

Oh, the overdose of 'vitamins' looks bad. But so does the trainer who gave himself laced Neosporin.

None of these excuses look too good on paper. At least Sharapova put some effort into her defense. 'Family history of diabetes...'
 
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