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Max Purcell Handed 18-Month Suspension for Anti-Doping Rule Breach

The Australian doubles champion admitted to excessive IV infusions and will forfeit results and prize money, with his ban ending in June 2026.

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Tennis - Davis Cup - Group B - Spain v Australia - Pabellon Fuente de San Luis, Valencia, Spain - September 15, 2024 Australia's Max Purcell during his doubles match against Spain's Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez REUTERS/Eva Manez/File Photo
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Overview

  • Max Purcell, a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, received an 18-month ban for exceeding the allowable limit of intravenous infusions in December 2023.
  • The Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reduced his sanction by 25% due to his full cooperation during the investigation.
  • Purcell will forfeit results and prize money from December 16, 2023, to February 3, 2024, and is barred from participating in ITIA-sanctioned events until June 11, 2026.
  • Investigators found WhatsApp messages showing Purcell discussed ways to justify the infusions, including feigning illness, highlighting the broader scope of anti-doping intelligence efforts.
  • The case has sparked debate over consistency in anti-doping sanctions, with Purcell's penalty being compared to shorter bans for other high-profile players.