The International Tennis Federation has announced on Thursday that current world number 53 Viktor Troicki has been handed with an 18-month ban for violating the tennis’ anti-doping program. The suspension will last until January 24, 2015.
According to reports, the 27-year old Serbian who was ranked as high as number 12 in the world, failed to provide a blood sample when he was notified by officials on April 15 that he’s one of the players selected to provide the sample and urine sample. This was during the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters tournament. Troicki provided a urine sample but not the blood sample.
Troicki reasoned that he was unable to provide the blood sample that day because he felt unwell but provided it the next day. However, the ITF Tribunal believed that his “actions constituted a failure and a refusal to provide a blood sample, and that his explanation for not doing so did not constitute compelling justification under Article 2.3.”
Troicki will also forfeit the prize money and ranking points received during the aforementioned event. There’s not much to lose on that standpoint considering that Troicki lost in the first round to Jarkko Nieminen.
ITF decision on Viktor Troicki case full text HERE.
