Source :- THE AGE NEWS
By Scott Spits
Australian doubles champion Max Purcell has been hit with an 18-month suspension for breaching tennis’ anti-doping rules after investigators found messages on his mobile phone in which he discussed ways he could justify receiving intravenous infusions.
The two-time grand slam doubles champion was found by the International Tennis Integrity Agency to have used a “prohibited method” by receiving infusions of more than 500 millilitres in December 2023.
In a significant judgment for 27-year-old Purcell, who will be eligible to play again at Wimbledon next year, the sport’s anti-doping watchdog said the former world No.40 singles player had not self-reported his anti-doping rules breach. The ITIA also outlined how text messages between Purcell and another professional tennis player showed how the Australian “discussed ways in which he could justify receiving infusions, including feigning illness”.
Australian tennis player Max Purcell.Credit: AP
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances specifies that IV infusions or injections are banned when they exceed a 100ml threshold, or unless they are done for legitimate medical purposes.
In the published findings, the ITIA said Purcell could have ensured he did not receive an IV infusion beyond the permissible limit “by taking the extremely simple step of looking at the IV bag containing the infusion”.
The findings read: “The player is a very high-level tennis player who has received anti-doping education over a number of years and is, by his account, well aware of the high level expected of him when it comes to meeting his anti-doping obligations.”
“Irrespective of whether the player requested an infusion of 100ml or not, by his own admission he never sought to verify whether his request had been understood.”
Purcell said the stress of the ongoing case had been “seriously affecting (his) quality of life”.
“From being unable to sleep and eat properly, and refusing to be by myself, to developing nervous and anxious tics which I still currently battle day to day,” Purcell said in a statement posted to Instagram after the announcement.
“I’m so glad that this is finally over, and I can move on with my life.
“The ITIA accepted that the infusion over the 100m limit was not intentional. It’s a case on completely exceeding the allowable limit of volume for an infusion. All substances in the infusion were WADA approved and beyond that, it provided me with zero performance enhancing benefit.
“It was 11 days prior to my first match of the season and was also administered at a 24/7 medical facility, in a third world location after feeling unwell and fatigued from training.”
ITIA boss Karen Moorhouse said: “This case does not involve a player testing positive for a prohibited substance but demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that. It also shows that the ITIA considers intelligence from a range of sources with the overriding aim to protect everyone covered by the tennis anti-doping rules, and ensure a level playing field for all.”
The ITIA findings said text messages between two players were crucial to the probe into Purcell.
“During its investigation, the ITIA recovered data from the mobile phone of another professional tennis player (Player 2) that included a number of WhatsApp messages exchanged between the player and Player 2, while both players were travelling internationally,” the findings read.
“These messages indicate that: (i) the Player requested the Clinic staff not to keep receipts relating to his infusion; (ii) the Player discussed ways in which he could justify receiving infusions, including feigning illness; and (iii) the Player subsequently researched whether or not the infusion was prohibited under the WADA Code (specifically, whether it was the ingredient itself or the water that was relevant to the limit of 100 mL within 12 hours).”
Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell (right) in action at Wimbledon last year.Credit: AP
Moorhouse said the ITIA’s intelligence about Purcell stemmed from their inquiries into another case.
“That messaging (text messages) was really crucial to the start of this investigation,” she said.
“That was the intel that we found as part of a different investigation that then led us to look further into to the events relating to Max Purcell.
“Getting intel of that nature is really important for us. I think we all understand the limitations there are on what you pick up through testing. And therefore we encourage anyone to come forward to us with any evidence or concerns they have around anti doping.”
Purcell won last year’s US Open doubles title with Jordan Thompson and the 2022 Wimbledon doubles crown with Matthew Ebden.
While the maximum penalty Purcell could have faced was two years, the ITIA’s findings said: “The facts and evidence in these proceedings demonstrate a significant degree of fault and negligence on the part of the player.”
Purcell’s provisional suspension became public in December. Five months ago, Purcell maintained he “had done everything to ensure that I had followed the WADA regulations and methods”.
Sport Integrity Australia has previously warned professional athletes about the risks of IV treatments. “Sport Integrity Australia is aware of a number of wellness clinics offering IV infusions for wellbeing, lifestyle or hangover recovery purposes,” the agency said in a February 2022 blog post. “Athletes are warned that any IV infusion over 100ml of ANY substance can result in a doping violation and a ban from sport.”
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