2024 US Open men’s doubles champion Max Purcell has admitted to violating anti-doping rules and has been provisionally suspended from tennis while he is investigated.
Purcell has been suspended since December 12, after making the admission and requesting his interim suspension on December 10. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed the suspension on December 23, saying the Australian, 26, had broken rules relating to the use of a “prohibited method”, rather than any tested positive for a prohibited substance.
Purcell said in a statement on Instagram: “I voluntarily agreed to a temporary suspension since I unknowingly received an IV vitamin infusion above the permitted limit of 100ml. Until last week, when I received a medical record from a clinic showing that the amount of an IV drip I had received was more than 100 ml, I was fully convinced that I had done everything to ensure that I had followed WADA’s regulations and methods.
“But records show the IV dose exceeded the 100ml limit, even though I told the clinic I was a professional athlete and needed the IV dose to be less than 100ml.”
According to the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA), “infusions or injections of 100 ml or less over a 12-hour period are permitted unless the substance infused/injected is on the prohibited list.”
A “prohibited method” falls under three possible definitions in the WADA code: blood manipulation, widely referred to as blood doping; chemical and physical manipulation, which extends to all forms of falsification or falsification of blood or urine samples and also covers intravenous infusions; and genetic and cellular doping. Purcell violation involves chemical and physical manipulation.
The ITIA has not yet commented on the details of the violation committed by Purcell.
As the suspension is provisional, it is unclear how much time Purcell will miss from tennis, but that time will be credited against any final sanctions when the investigation into his case is complete. He was absent from List of Australian Open singles wildcards despite being ranked world No. 105, just outside the main draw entry limit.
Doubles entry lists have not yet been released, but Purcell, who won the US Open title in September with compatriot Jordan Thompson and is ranked world number 12 in doubles, was in contention to compete in his major tournament at home. Purcell also won the Wimbledon men’s title with Matt Ebden, another Australian, in 2022.
Purcell is the third major champion in 2024 to be accused of anti-doping rule violations. Reigning Australian Open champion and world number one Jannik sinnerwho twice tested positive for banned substance clostebol in March, was found innocent by three independent tribunals convened by the ITIA. Sinner, who also won the US Open title, awaits the result of a WADA appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which could see him suspended for up to two years.
Roland-Garros champion Iga Swiatek, tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in August, served a month-long ban. 22 days of this ban were covered by his provisional suspension, which caused him to miss three tournaments. Swiatek was found to have no significant fault.
GO DEEPER
Jannik Sinner’s doping case explained: What WADA’s appeal means and what’s at stake for tennis
(Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)