Russian Player Handed Four-Year Suspension For Refusing In-Competition Anti-Doping Test

| by Nurein Ahmed

A Russian player has been suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for failure to comply with anti-doping regulations.

The player, who has been named 24-year-old Vladislav Ivanov in a press release by the ITIA on Friday, was deemed to have "intentionally" refused to undertake an anti-doping test during a $15,000 ITF tournament in Morocco in September 2022.

Ivanov was requested to provide an in-competition urine sample but left the tournament venue without complying. Although the player returned to provide the sample, he was charged with flouting anti-doping regulations under Article 2.3 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).

His refusal to take an anti-doping test is a rare situation, as stated by the CEO of the ITIA, Karen Moorhouse, who urged players to work with anti-doping officials and abide by protocols to avoid severe sanctions.

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"A player refusing to undertake a test is rare, but this sends a powerful message to any sportsperson about the devastating consequences if they do."

"We strongly urge players who are selected for testing to provide their sample at the earliest opportunity, listen carefully to instructions given to them by the Doping Control Officer, and be chaperoned from the moment of notification through to sample collection. We understand that the testing process can be inconvenient, but it is vital in the fight for a clean sport."

Ivanov, who has a career-high ATP singles ranking of 835, requested a hearing before an independent tribunal held remotely in November 2023.

The tribunal concluded Ivanov deliberately breached an anti-doping rule and imposed a four-year suspension period that will run until midnight on December 20th, 2027.

The Russian suspension period is not too dissimilar to that of WTA star Simona Halep, who will serve a similar suspension period after consuming the prohibited blood doping agent Roxadustat.

Unlike Ivanov, the Romanian complied with doping officials when requested to undertake anti-doping tests at the 2022 US Open.

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