Marin Cilic of Croatia has been banned for playing professional tennis by the International Tennis Federation due to violating the anti-doping rules. The Croatian has not played on tour since the Wimbledon Championships. It was reported that the tennis star learned that he tested positive for a banned substance during the BMW Open that took place in late May. The 24-year old pro can make his return on professional tour by February 2014.
Here’s the statement released by the ITF:
The International Tennis Federation announced today that Marin Cilic has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample).
Mr Cilic, a 24-year-old player from Croatia, provided a urine sample in association with his participation in the BMW Open event in Munich, Germany. That sample was sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain nikethamide, which is a Prohibited Substance under section S6 (Stimulants) of the 2013 WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, and is therefore also prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the “Programme”). Mr Cilic was therefore charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme.
Mr Cilic asserted that the nikethamide, for which he did not hold a valid TUE, had entered his system through his ingestion of Coramine glucose tablets that had been purchased on his behalf from a pharmacy.
The Independent Tribunal found that Mr Cilic ingested the nikethamide inadvertently as a result of taking the Coramine glucose tablets, and did not intend to enhance his performance in doing so, and that he therefore met the preconditions of Article 10.4 of the Programme, which entitles him to a reduction of the Period of Ineligibility for Specified Substance based on an assessment of his fault.
Mr Cilic’s commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme was confirmed, and it was determined that he is suspended from participation for a period of nine months, back-dated to commence from 1 May 2013, the date on which he provided the sample concerned, and so ending at midnight on 31 January 2014. It was also determined that Mr Cilic’s results at the 2013 BMW Open event should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of the ranking points and prize money that he won at those events. Mr Cilic’s results subsequent to the BMW Open, up to the time that he accepted a voluntary provisional suspension are also disqualified, and the ranking points and prize money forfeited. A fully-reasoned decision will follow in due course.
