Jenson Brooksby's suspension for missing three out-of-competition doping tests has been reduced after a case resolution was agreed with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
In July 2023, Brooksby was provisionally suspended by the ITIA for missing three doping tests within a 12-month period and accepted the temporary charge with a view of contesting the ban once he noted a discrepancy in one of the alleged missed tests.
The American explained that he was at the premises within the agreed time to meet the Doping Control Officer (DCO) during an ATP event in the Netherlands in 2022. However, the ITIA concluded, through the independent tribunal, that the player was negligent in making himself available.
In late October, he was slapped with an 18-month suspension from the sport, and his ban was backdated to include the period he served the temporary suspension. Brooksby was recovering from a wrist injury at the time and pleaded his innocence on social media.
The 23-year-old gave full disclosure of the whereabouts of the contested missed test in a long post on Instagram and vowed to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, reiterating that he had never taken any prohibited substances.
And in light of "new information" that had been submitted by Brooksby as part of the appeal proceedings to CAS, the ITIA reassessed this information in consultation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and confirmed in its press release that it had reached an agreement to reduce the sanction on the former world No. 33 to 13 months.
The ITIA will backdate the suspension period to begin on February 4th, 2023 (the date of his third and final missed test) and will end on March 3rd, 2024. This means that Brooksby will be available to play on the ATP Tour starting next month, potentially as a wild card at Indian Wells. And he was ecstatic to learn about this development.
"It gives me tremendous joy, and relief, that I can get back to doing what I love. The last 13 months have been exhausting, and a nightmare I don't wish on anyone. To my family, my team, and all my extended family and friends - thank you for keeping my head up through these difficult times."
0 Comments