Last week, the International Tennis Integrity Agency provisionally suspended Max Purcell. The Australian had been given a vitamin infusion, but he breached the anti-doping rule by going over the permitted limit and self-reported to the ITIA.
“As announced by the ITA, I have voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension as I unknowingly received an intravenous vitamin infusion in excess of the permitted 100ml. This news is devastating to me as I pride myself on being an athlete who always ensures that everything is safe in this regard. I have voluntarily provided all information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this situation behind me. I look forward to getting back on the court soon,” wrote the Australian on social media.
Purcell has won two Slams in doubles: Wimbledon in 2022 with Matthew Ebden and the US Open this year with Jordan Thompson.
And Thompson himself was asked on the Media Day of the Brisbane tournament for his opinion on the matter.
“He took too much of the drug in an IV bag, sure, but to be suspended for that, when there are other people who have done worse and sometimes they just get a pat on the back (in what seems like a dig at Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek). It seems like a bit of a joke to me, but it’s not for me to decide what happens or what should happen. When you see guys testing positive and then you see Max taking too much of the drug in an IV bag, it makes you scratch your head.
After he won the US Open, we said we were going to win our home Grand Slam. That’s not going to happen. He’s been suspended, so draw your own conclusions. Some people say it’s unfair. I don’t know, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I definitely have strong feelings about it. I’m devastated for him, we wanted to win the Australian Open. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. I’m hoping for a simple slap on the wrist. I don’t see why he should get some serious sanction, but it’s not up to me,” he said.
Tennis World USA