Australian tennis star Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month ban after he breached Tennis’ Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) rules.
He has also been ordered to repay over $200,000 (£100,000) in prize money won between the period of December 2023 and February 2024.
The two-time Grand Slam winner explained to his followers that the seven-month ordeal has taken a huge toll on his wellbeing, with the 27-year-old tennis star claiming he has ‘struggled to sleep and eat properly’ while also developing ‘nervous and anxious tics’ which he battles on a daily basis.
In December 2024, the ITIA announced that the Wimbledon and US Open doubles champion had breached Article 2.2 of the TADP, relating to the use of a ‘prohibited method’.
A ‘devastated’ Purcell said at the time he had ‘unknowingly’ received a transfusion of vitamins that was above the ‘allowable limit of 100ml’ and voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension.
The ITIA, meanwhile, launched an investigation into the matter and found text messages between himself and another player in December 2023 where he admitted to a ‘hydration session’ at a medical clinic while confirming he had received an infusion.
They recovered data on the mobile phone of the player he had been speaking with which revealed that the players had ‘exchanged a number of further messages that day concerning the infusion.’
Australian tennis star Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month ban after he breached Tennis’ Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) rules
The two-time Grand Slam winner explained to his followers that the seven-month ordeal has taken a huge toll on his wellbeing, with the 27-year-old tennis star claiming he has ‘struggled to sleep and eat properly’
‘These messages indicate that: (i) the Player requested the Clinic staff not to keep receipts relating to his infusion; (ii) the Player discussed ways in which he could justify receiving infusions, including feigning illness; and (iii) the Player subsequently researched whether or not the infusion was prohibited under the WADA Code (specifically, whether it was the ingredient itself or the water that was relevant to the limit of 100 mL within 12 hours),’ the ITIA wrote, outlining their investigation.
After being made aware of the messages, the ITIA issued a demand to access Purcell’s mobile device and download their correspondence. And after requesting an interview with the 27-year-old to discuss the matter in person in December 2024, Purcell issued a statement to the ITIA where he accepted the Anti-Doping Rule violation.
Tennis players can only consume 100ml intravenously over a 12-hour period as part of the TADP regulations.
He is understood to have undergone the infusions in Bali in 2023 and in his statement, he said he had been left ‘shocked’ after medical records indicated that the infusions, which he received on December 16 and 20 in 2023, had been more than ‘500ml and over the allowable limit’. Purcell had also told the ITIA that he had ‘directed the clinic both times to provide me with a legal IV amount. I told them less than 100ml and both times they seemed to understand me.’
The 2024 US Open doubles champion was subsequently given a notice of a potential doping rule violation, which the Aussie subsequently accepted on December 12 2024.
He would appear for an interview with the ITIA later that month, where the ITIA said he ‘confirmed the contents of the player statement’ and also said that ‘while he believed that he had asked the clinic to provide him with IV infusions of no more than 100ml, he had not checked the volume of the IV infusion before it was administered to him.’
In their investigations, the ITIA stated that they had also contacted the clinic, who told them: ‘(i) it is possible that there was a misunderstanding if Purcell requested a 100ml infusion.’
The clinic also told the ITIA said they were ‘aware of the players status as a professional athlete and his adherence to anit-doping regulations.’
In a statement on his Instagram, Purcell said he was ‘devastated’ by the news, adding that he had told medical professionals that he needed an IV injection that was below 100ml
Because of Purcell’s cooperation with the governing body, the ITIA have allowed for a 25 per cent reduction in his sanction. His 18-month suspension will also include the time he has previously served under his voluntary provisional ban. That means he will be free to return to play on June 11, 2026. He is banned from playing, coaching or attending any tennis events governed by the ITIA’s members, including the ATP and WTA Tours, the ITF or Tennis Australia.
ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse stated that the decision should help to bring back confidence and trust in the anti-doping system.
It comes after the system has been scrutinised in recent years following high-profile cases of Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner.
‘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,’ Moorehouse said.
‘We have had some really high profile cases … naturally that has led to lots of questions.
‘I really hope this decision does show players we are there to protect all those clean players and we have that capability.
‘We have great people who really challenge ourselves to make sure we are looking at every bit of intelligence and taking the steps we can to achieve our aim.’
On Tuesday, Purcell took to Instagram issue a statement on the matter, where he opened up on the toll that the ordeal has taken on his mental and physical wellbeing.
Purcell addressed his followers on Instagram revealing the toll that the last few months had taken on his health before adding that he had fully cooperated with the ITIA
He had also shared an image of his phone lockscreen showing how dedicated he was to ensuring he stayed a clean athlete, with this being a reminder to complete his WADA Whereabouts obligations
‘As announced by the ITIA, I’ve accepted a settlement for a period of ineligibility of 18 months with a loss of earnings from December 16 2023 – February 3 2024 (as February 3 was my first doping test since December and returned a negative result, as all my tests have),’ Purcell wrote.
‘This case has been going on for months, seriously affecting my quality of life.
‘From being unable to sleep and eat properly, and refusing to be by myself, to developing nervous and anxious tics which I still currently battle day to day.
‘I couldn’t sit and enjoy anything without the thought of the case and the endless possibilities of what sanction I would receive.
‘I was nothing but cooperative with the ITIA. I’m so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life.’
‘The ITIA accepted that the infusion over the 100ml limit was not intentional,’ Purcell said.
‘It’s a case completely on exceeding the allowable limit of volume for an infusion. All substances in the infusion were WADA-approved and beyond that, it provided me with zero performance-enhancing benefit.
‘It was 11 days prior to my first match of the season and was also administered at a 24/7 facility, in a third-world location after feeling unwell and fatigued from training.
‘I have accepted the mistake I made and will make sure I’m even more diligent with everything regarding the integrity of the sport.’
Purcell had also included a screenshot of his phone’s lock screen which had been a white background, with the words ‘WADA Whereabouts’ written in bold writing. He explained in his dedication to being a clean athlete, he had placed the words on his lock screen to ensure he remembered to check in with WADA testers to provide his whereabouts.
Nick Kyrgios had also taken to Instagram to comment on the news, writing: ‘Sad sad sad stuff’
In December, Purcell made a statement on Instagram in which he revealed that he had ‘unknowingly’ received a transfusion of vitamins above the ‘allowable limit’
‘I pride myself on being a clean athlete and have never been anything but that. Those who know me, know that I take my anti-doping duties very seriously. So seriously, that since December 2023, when I was added tothe testing pool and asked to provide my whereabouts every single day, I even changed the background lock screen on my phone so I would never forget.
‘I’ll be able to compete from June 12th 2026. I am excited for the challenge and hope you all get around me for my comeback when it’s time.’
It comes as Aussie tennis great Nick Kyrgios has also spoken out on Purcell’s ban.
Kyrgios has been outspoken on the matter of doping in tennis over the past 12 months and was vocally critical of Sinner.
Kyrgios took to Instagram on Tuesday following the announcement of the news embedding a news story of the ban, while writing: ‘Sad, sad, sad stuff.’
