Former tennis world number 39 banned for doping

AFP | Sydney

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Australian tennis player turned coach Marinko Matosevic was slapped with a four-year ban yesterday for breaching anti-doping rules between 2018 and 2020.

The former world number 39, who most recently helped coach current Australian players Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson, initially denied all charges.

But he admitted to blood doping in comments shortly before the hearing was scheduled to take place, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said.

An independent tribunal found he committed five anti-doping rule violations. They included “use of a prohibited method through blood doping and facilitating another player to blood dope”.

He also “provided advice to others on how to avoid positive tests, and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol”.

Clenbuterol, a medication prescribed for treating asthma and other breathing difficulties, is sometimes misused by bodybuilders and athletes as an off-label performance enhancer.