Jenson Brooksby was provisionally suspended by the ITIA after missing three doping tests.
Brooksby is one of the more talented players on the ATP Tour, and his breakthrough seemed to be right around the corner. However, in 2023, Brooksby struggled with injuries that kept him out of play since January.
He reached the semi-finals at the ASB Classic in Auckland before playing in the third round of the Australian Open, but after that, he was forced to undergo wrist surgery and miss six months of action as a result.
Now, the current World No. 101 might spend an even longer period away from the courts, as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) provisionally suspended him.
After the news broke out, Brooksby spoke to the Associated Press, confirming he has not failed any drug tests or used banned substances but failed to inform the ITIA about his whereabouts. He also disclosed that he will accept the provisional suspension but seek to challenge it.
Amrit Narasimhan, who is Brooksby's advisor, shared his statement, as Brooksby denied any wrongdoing.
"As of July 5, 2023, I will be accepting a provisional suspension due to an allegation of three missed tests in a 12-month period. The provisional suspension is not an admission that I have done anything wrong; to the contrary, I have denied this charge and am waiting for an arbitration with an independent tribunal."
"The protocols of the anti-doping program are in place to protect the integrity of our sport, and I respect and support these protocols. I have never failed a drug test, and I have never taken any substances that I was not allowed to take. I have been tested numerous times, including 3 times after surgery in March 2023."
"One of the alleged missed tests occurred on June 4th, 2022, in St. Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, 2 days before the start of the ATP 250 in St. Hertogenbosch. At the time of that test attempt, I was at the official tournament hotel where I said I would be, and in my hotel room, and the time that I had said I would be there."
"I look forward to providing all the evidence and explaining what happened to an independent panel of arbitrators. This year has been filled with tremendous adversity and I am looking forward to putting all this behind me and getting back on tour."