Doping Scandal Hits Former Aussie Player

Four-Year Ban for Aussie Tennis' Matosevic

Marinko Matosevic, former Australian tennis player, receives four-year ban for anti-doping rule breaches.

Matosevic admits to blood transfusion in Mexico, gets four-year doping ban...

Former Australian tennis player Marinko Matosevic has received a four-year ban from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for breaching anti-doping rules. The 40-year-old, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 39 in 2013, was found guilty of five anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020.

Matosevic, who retired from professional tennis in 2018, has been working as a coach with Australian players Chris O'Connell and Jordan Thompson. The ITIA tribunal determined that Matosevic committed violations including blood doping, facilitating another player to blood dope, providing advice on avoiding positive tests, and using and possessing the prohibited substance clenbuterol.

“An independent tribunal determined that Matosevic committed five ‌anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020...,” the ITIA said in a statement.

“... including use of a prohibited method through ‌blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating ⁠another player to ‌blood dope, providing advice to other players on how to avoid positive tests, and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol.”

Marinko Matosevic admitted to undergoing a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico towards the end of his playing career, citing “desperate circumstances” and “stupid and reckless” decisions. He made this admission in a statement published by Australian tennis website 'The First Serve' in February. Matosevic, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 39 in 2013, has been handed a four-year ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for breaching anti-doping rules.

“The tribunal also dismissed Matosevic's public allegations relating to the integrity of the ITIA's investigation process as without merit, and that the ITIA 'acted within the ⁠authority conferred by the (Tennis ⁠Anti-Doping Programme)',” the ITIA ‌said on Monday.