Tennis rocked by another anti-doping breach as doubles champion accepts suspension
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Max Purcell won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2022 and the US Open in 2024. Two-time grand slam doubles winner Max Purcell has been provisionally suspended for violating tennis’ anti-doping rules. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the sanction in a statement on Monday.
The 26-year-old Australian accepted the suspension, admitting to violating Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program “relating to the use of a Prohibited Method”, with the suspension effective as of December 12. The ITIA did not specify the length of time of the voluntary suspension would apply.
“During the provisional suspension, Purcell is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Federation Francaise de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association,” the ITIA statement read.
Purcell won Wimbledon in 2022 alongside Matthew Ebden and the 2024 US Open alongside Jordan Thompson. Tennis Australia said the ITIA confirmed the breach related to the use of a prohibited method rather than the presence of a prohibited substance. “As the matter is currently under investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further at this time,” it added.
Purcell is the latest grand slam champion to have case opened by the ITIA, an independent organisation established by the governing bodies of the sport to safeguard its integrity. The agency said last month that French Open champion Iga Swiatek had accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine following contamination of her sleep medication.
