MELBOURNE, Australia – Two-time Grand Slam champion doubles player Max Purcell has been voluntarily provisionally suspended under tennis’ anti-doping rules.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced the sanctions in a statement on Monday after the 26-year-old Australian admitted to violating Article 2(2) of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme “in relation to the use of prohibited methods.”
ITIA said the suspension took effect Dec. 12 and that time served under the temporary suspension will be reflected in future sanctions. The length of the voluntary suspension is not specified by the ITIA.
“During the period of the temporary suspension, Purcell is prohibited from playing, coaching or attending tennis events sanctioned or endorsed by any member of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association,” it said. The ITIA statement said.
Purcell won the US Open in September with fellow Australian Jordan Thompson, and Wimbledon in 2022 with another Australian, Matthew Ebden. Purcell is currently ranked 12th in doubles.
He has also twice finished runner-up in the Australian Open doubles final in 2020 and 2022.
Purcell, ranked 105th in singles, was not included in the Australian Open roster released earlier this month and was not given a wild card or feature in the qualifying round.
The ITIA did not say whether the sanctions were responsible for Purcell’s absence from the tournament draw, which begins on January 12.
Tennis’ latest doping violation comes just weeks after five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek was banned for a month after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
The World Anti-Doping Agency ruled that Jannik Sinner, the men’s No. 1 player who won two Grand Slams this year, tested positive twice for traces of anabolic steroids in March. After appeal, he was acquitted by ITIA.
