Wimbledon champion banned for 18 months and forced to give up prize money

Max Purcell, who won the Wimbledon men's doubles title in 2022, has accepted an 18-month ban from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The 27-year-old will be sidelined for at least a year and a half following a breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. He will be cleared to return from June 2026, with his ban starting from last December when he was first notified of a potential violation.

Purcell admitted to receiving intravenous infusions of over 500 millilitres in December 2023, resulting in his suspension. His sanction was reduced by 25 per cent due to his full cooperation and information sharing with the ITIA. He entered into a voluntary suspension on the same day he received notice of a possible anti-doping rule violation on December 12, 2024.

The man from Sydney will also be forced to give up his prize money from the date of his first violation on December 16, 2023 to the first subsequent negative doping control sample on February 3, 2024.

During his period of ineligibility, Purcell will be banned from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA. These include the ATP, WTA and ITF as well as any national association.

Karen Moorhouse, chief executive of the ITIA, said in a statement: "This case does not involve a player testing positive for a prohibited substance but demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that.

"It also shows that the ITIA considers intelligence from a range of sources with the overriding aim to protect everyone covered by the tennis anti-doping rules, and ensure a level playing field for all."

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