Cilic Suspended Nine Months for Violating ITF Anti-Doping Policy
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced that Marin Cilic has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample). Cilic from Croatia provided a urine sample in association with his participation in the BMW Open event in Munich, Germany. That sample was sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain nikethamide, which is a Prohibited Substance under Section S6 (Stimulants) of the 2013 WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, and is therefore also prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program. Cilic was therefore charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Program.
Cilic asserted that the nikethamide had entered his system through his ingestion of Coramine glucose tablets that had been purchased on his behalf from a pharmacy. The Independent Tribunal found that Cilic ingested the nikethamide inadvertently as a result of taking the Coramine glucose tablets, and did not intend to enhance his performance in doing so, and that he therefore met the preconditions of Article 10.4 of the Program, which entitles him to a reduction of the Period of Ineligibility for Specified Substance based on an assessment of his fault. Cilic’s commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Program was confirmed, and it was determined that he is suspended from participation for a period of nine months, back-dated to commence from May 1, 2013, the date on which he provided the sample concerned, and so ending at midnight on Jan. 31, 2014.
It was also determined that Cilic’s results at the 2013 BMW Open event should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of the ranking points and prize money that he won at those events. Cilic’s results subsequent to the BMW Open, up to the time that he accepted a voluntary provisional suspension are also disqualified, and the ranking points and prize money forfeited. A fully-reasoned decision will follow in due course.
The Tennis Anti-Doping Program is a comprehensive and internationally recognized drug-testing program that applies to all players competing at Grand Slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the ITF, ATP and WTA. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and, upon a finding that an Anti-Doping Rule Violation has been committed, sanctions are imposed in accordance with the requirements of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and World Anti-Doping Code.
