Troicki’s Suspension Is Reduced, But Will Still Miss Davis Cup Final Next Week

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 6th November 2013

Troicki's Suspension Is Reduced, But Will Still Miss Davis Cup Final Next Week

epa03765985 Viktor Troicki of Serbia takes on Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during their third round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 29 June 2013. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cut Viktor Troicki’s suspension for doping violations from 18 months to 12 months. Troicki was suspended by the ITF on July 15 for not providing a blood sample at the Monte Carlo.

“The CAS has determined that the player has committed a doping offense, but that his fault was not significant, and has decided to reduce the suspension imposed by the ITF Anti-Doping Tribunal from 18 months to 12 months,” the organization said in a statement.

Troicki cracked the top 15 back in 2011, and has been a stalwart on the Serbian Davis Cup. He will be free to begin play on July 15, 2014.

On April 15 2013 in Monte Carlo, he was asked to give a blood sample and declined. He claimed that the Doping Control Officer (DCO) indicated to him that he could take the test again the next day, a claim she denied.

A CAS Panel “considered that risks caused by his refusal to undergo a blood test between the player and the DCO detection of a banned substance in his system indeed commit an anti-doping violation fact that there is no significant fault, the just and appropriate sanction ineligibility of 12 months.”

Troicki took the decision hard as he was hoping to be fully acquitted and play the Davis Cup final next week.

“I hoped that the most difficult period of my career and of my life would be over, and I really trusted the judges I met in Lausanne,” he said. “I had the feeling that they were really looking for the truth and that they had found it during the hearing. Now this decision puts an end to my dreams of being a top player, of reaching the ATP finals and fighting against the best in the world. I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didn’t know.”

The 27 year old alleged that CAS “probably” didn’t have the courage to go up against the ITF releasing him as it would put the ITF in a bad light.

“I am sure they feel bad about it, but in the end they will all go back to their jobs tomorrow, including Doctor Gorodilova [the Doping Control Officer], and I won’t. This is what remains from this case,” he said. “I thank everyone who has supported me so far, Novak [Djokovic], Janko {Tipsarevic], my family, my team and everyone who truly believes I am innocent. I won’t forget it. I have no idea about what to do now or where to go. I hope somehow I will be able to fight back.”

The Serbian Tennis Federation called the decision a “great injustice.”

Rafael Nadal said he’s feels bad for Troicki and mentioned that maybe the doctor should not have allowed Troicki to take his blood test a day late.

“I believe in Viktor. But at the end there is somebody that have to take the decisions. The doctor who accept to make the control the next day, if that’s that way, that’s big mistake from the doctor, too.

So at the end there is somebody that have to decide how many months are for sanction. That’s 12. I am sorry for him. I know Viktor is a good guy. I hope to see him back on tour next year.”

But Troicki’s close friend Novak Djokovic was furious when he was made aware of CAS’ decision, saying that the suspension should have been nullified

“It proves again that this system of WADA and anti‑doping agency does not work,” Djokovic said. “Why am I saying that? Because, first of all, as a tennis pro, our job is to play, of course, tennis and respect all the rules and know all the rules of our sport. But when you are randomly selected to go and provide the test, blood test or urine test, the representatives of WADA, anti‑doping agency who are there in the tournament, are supposed to give you the clear indications and explain you the rules and regulations and what the severe consequences or penalties that you might undertake or you might have if you fail to provide the test.

The representative, she didn’t do that in his case. So first of all he’s not positive on any banned substance. I’m not saying that it’s completely not his fault, but the way it was is that he had a medical pass where he was fainting, if he feels bad when he provides the blood test. He asked if it’s possible to avoid providing blood test that day and he would come the next day ‑ not because he wanted to hide anything, he just felt bad. She did not clearly present him all the severe consequences that he will have if he avoids that. She told him that he needs to write a report and that he will be just fine.

And because of her negligence and because of her unprofessionalism, he is now off the tour for one year. And now it makes me nervous as a player, to do any kind of test. And I heard Andy Murray also said that he wants to take some actions into making sure that he has the independent laboratory also following his tests that he provides to WADA and IDTM. I don’t have trust in them anymore.”

Serb Viktor Troicki will miss next week’s Davis Cup final as well as the first half of the 2014 tennis season after world sport’s top appeals body upheld his ban for failing to take a blood test in a timely manner last spring. Troicki was punished for failing to submit to a post-match blood test in good time last spring in Monte Carlo, saying he had a lifelong fear of needles.

The Court for the Arbitration in Sport (CAS) did decree a lesser sentence of 12 months instead of the original 18 handed down in the case in a July 25, due in part to the apparent misunderstanding between the player and the on-site doctor. He can resume playing on July 15, 2014.

“This decision puts an end to my dreams of being a top player, of reaching the ATP finals and fighting against the best in the world,” said Troicki. “I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didn’t know.

“Regarding the CAS I can only say that they are humans, and they probably didn’t have the courage to go against the ITF releasing me and putting ITF in a bad situation. I am sure they feel bad about it, but in the end they will all go back to their jobs tomorrow, including Doctor Gorodilova, and I won’t. This is what remains from this case.

“I thank everyone who has supported me so far, Novak, Janko (Tipsarevic), my family, my team and everyone who truly believes I am innocent. I have no idea about what to do now or where to go. I hope somehow I will be able to fight back.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Davis Cup, Itf, Janko Tipsarevic, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Viktor Troicki