An Australian tennis player, a former Wimbledon and US Open doubles champion, has been handed an 18-month doping ban and is required to repay around £100,000 in prize money.
Max Purcell, aged 27, who won the Doubles title at Wimbledon in 2022 and the US Open last year, accepted the ban. The 18-month duration represents a 25 percent reduction from the standard two-year ban due to his full cooperation with authorities.
The violation occurred in December 2023 when Purcell received IV infusions exceeding the permitted limit. While in Bali and feeling unwell and fatigued from training, he received more than 500ml of infusion on two occasions. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) rules permit a maximum of 100ml in a 12-hour period.
Purcell stated that the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the administration of the IV above the limit was not intentional. He also noted that the contents of the infusion were WADA-approved and did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit.
The stress of the ongoing case significantly impacted Purcell. He shared his struggle during the process:
“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’m so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life.”
As a result of the ban, Purcell is prohibited from playing, coaching, or attending any tennis events until June 11, 2026. However, the ban period includes the time he has already served since entering a voluntary provisional suspension in December.
