Max Purcell, Australia, is ranked 12th in the world in doubles. He has voluntarily taken a provisional suspension, announced the organization International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Monday.
Purcell writes on his Instagram that he has informed ITIA that he "unintentionally received an injection of vitamins exceeding the allowed limit of 100 milliliters".
"I was completely convinced that I had done everything to ensure that I followed (the international anti-doping organization) WADA's rules and methods," he writes and continues:
"This news was devastating for me since I am proud to be an athlete who always makes sure that everything is right according to WADA's rules."
Banned from competing and training
The provisional suspension came into effect on December 12, but the duration has not been specified.
"Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanctions," says ITIA in a statement.
According to the suspension, Purcell is forbidden to play in, train on, or participate in any tennis event approved by any of the sport's governing bodies or national associations.
This means that he will currently not be able to play in the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in January.
Won US Open
Purcell won the 2022 doubles title at Wimbledon together with his compatriot Matt Ebden, and earlier this year, he also took home the doubles title at the US Open together with Jordan Thompson.
The news of Purcell's suspension comes just weeks after the five-time Grand Slam winner on the women's side, Iga Swiatek, accepted a month-long suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
On the men's side, world number one Jannik Sinner was cleared by ITIA after testing positive for a metabolite of clostebol, a banned steroid. The Italian was only temporarily suspended during the investigation.
