US Open doubles champion Max Purcell suspended after admitting doping violation
Reigning US Open doubles champion Max Purcell has been suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) following a breach of anti-doping rules.
Purcell, who has reached a career-high of world No 8 in doubles and world No 40 in singles, has admitted to an offence relating to using what the ITIA and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) define as a “Prohibited Method”.
The 26-year-old has since confirmed that this relates to receiving an infusion of vitamins above the allowable level of 100ml.
In a statement released on Monday, the ITIA revealed that the Australian had accepted a provisional suspension on December 10th, which was enforced two days later.
They wrote: “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.
“During the provisional suspension, Purcell is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.”
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Purcell’s suspension means that the 26-year-old will miss his home Slam at the Australian Open.
He is twice a doubles runner-up in Melbourne, losing the 2020 final alongside Luke Saville and the 2022 final alongside Matthew Ebden.
Purcell won Wimbledon alongside compatriot Ebden in 2022, before winning the US Open title alongside fellow Australian Jordan Thompson earlier this season.
The Australian is a winner of eight career ATP doubles titles, with Thompson and himself reaching the last four of the ATP Finals just last month.
Purcell has since taken to social media to release a 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 level of 100ml,” said Purcell.
“Until last week when I received medical records from a clinic showing that the amount of an IV had received was above 100ml, 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 100ml.
“This news was devasting 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 court soon.”
News of Purcell’s ban comes after what has been a difficult year for tennis, with the sport finding itself more and more embroiled in doping controversy in recent months.
Most notably, world No 1 Jannik Sinner was found to be of “no fault” by the ITIA after successfully claiming contamination following two positive tests for clostebol back in March 2024.
Sinner initially served no suspension, though WADA has announced an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport into his case.
Meanwhile, WTA world No 2 Iga Swiatek has recently served a one-month ban after being found to be of “no significant” fault after proving contamination after testing positive for TMZ.