US Open doubles champion Max Purcell has been suspended for an anti-doping violation

MELBOURNE, Australia — Two-time Grand Slam champion Max Purcell has entered a voluntary suspension beneath tennis’ anti-doping guidelines.

The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company introduced the sentence in an announcement on Monday after the 26-year-old Australian admitted to violating Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program “regarding the usage of a Prohibited Technique”.

ITIA mentioned the suspension took impact on Dec. 12, and time served beneath the suspension will likely be included in any future penalty. The length of the voluntary suspension is just not specified by the ITIA.

“Through the suspension, Purcell is prohibited from taking part in, teaching, or attending any tennis occasion sanctioned or sanctioned by ITIA members (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any a nationwide group,” reads the ITIA assertion.

Purcell, together with accomplice Jordan Thompson, gained the US Open in September and gained Wimbledon with fellow Australian, Matthew Ebden, in 2022. He’s presently ranked No. 12 in doubles.

He additionally completed as runner-up within the last of the Australian Open twice, in 2020 and 2022.

Purcell, ranked No. 105 in singles, was not included within the Australian Open entry listing launched earlier this month and didn’t obtain a wildcard or function within the qualifying entries.

The ITIA didn’t say whether or not Purcell’s absence from the match, which begins on January 12, is because of a penalty.

The most recent doping violation in tennis comes simply weeks after five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension after testing constructive for the banned substance trimetazidine.

Prime-ranked males’s participant Jannik Sinner, who gained two Grand Slams this 12 months, was cleared by the ITIA after twice testing constructive for an anabolic steroid in March, and the World Anti-Doping Company appealed the choice.