Grand Slam Winner Purcell Accepts 18-month Anti-doping Breach Ban

Australian Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month prohibition for breaching anti-doping rules successful a lawsuit nan two-time Grand Slam doubles champion said had been "seriously affecting my value of life".

Purcell, who was provisionally suspended successful December 2024, admitted to nan "use of a prohibited method" by "receiving intravenous infusions of complete 500ml" of vitamins connected 16 and 20 December 2023.

The 27-year-old, whose awesome titles came astatine Wimbledon successful 2022 and nan 2024 US Open, did not trial affirmative for a banned substance.

"The limit nether nan World Anti-Doping Code and TADP is 100ml successful a 12-hour period," said nan International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

In a statement, it added: "Following a afloat investigation by nan ITIA, which included grounds gathering and interviews pinch nan player, Purcell admitted to nan breaches.

"The player's afloat co-operation and accusation sharing pinch nan ITIA allowed for a 25% simplification successful sanction."

Purcell's prohibition will extremity connected 11 June, 2026 aft taking into relationship nan clip he has already served.

Purcell, successful a societal media post, said he was "glad this is yet complete for me" and "I tin move connected pinch my life".

He added: "This lawsuit has been going connected for months, earnestly affecting my value of life.

"From being incapable to slumber and eat properly, and refusing to beryllium by myself, to processing tense and anxious tics which I still presently conflict time to day.

"I couldn't beryllium and bask thing without nan thought of nan lawsuit and nan endless possibilities of what punishment I would receive.

"I was thing but co-operative pinch nan ITIA."

Purcell will besides forfeit results and prize money from nan day of his first anti-doping norm usurpation connected 16 December, 2023 to his first consequent antagonistic doping power sample provided connected 3 February, 2024.

"This lawsuit does not impact a subordinate testing affirmative for a prohibited constituent but demonstrates that nan anti-doping rules are broader than that," said ITIA main executive Karen Moorhouse.

"It besides shows that nan ITIA considers intelligence from a scope of sources pinch nan overriding purpose to protect everyone covered by nan tennis anti-doping rules, and guarantee a level playing section for all."

This is nan latest anti-doping lawsuit successful tennis pursuing five-time women's singles Grand Slam victor Iga Swiatek accepting a one-month ban aft testing affirmative for a banned substance.

World men's number 1 Jannik Sinner also accepted a three-month ban from tennis aft reaching a colony pinch nan World Anti-Doping Agency complete his 2 affirmative narcotics tests past year.

The 23-year-old is group to return to action for his location tourney of nan Italian Open, which starts successful Rome adjacent week.