Troicki Gets Doping Related Suspension

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th July 2013

Troicki Gets Doping Related Suspension

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 |

Current world No. 53 Viktor Troicki of Serbia became the first top former top 20 player to be stung with a major anti –doping violation when the International Tennis Federation slammed him with an 18-month ban for failing to provide a blood sample.

The Serbian was notified on April 15 that he had been selected to provide a urine sample and a blood sample at Monte Carlo Masters. Troicki provided a urine sample, but said he was too sick to provide a blood sample and claimed that the Doping Control Officer excused him. However, the Doping Control Officer told the ITF that “she could not advise him as to whether his reason for not providing a blood sample was valid, and that no such assurances were given by her.”

Accordingly, the tribunal determined that Troicki’s actions constituted a failure and a refusal to provide a blood sample, and that his explanation for not doing so did not constitute compelling justification for not undergoing the test. However, the tribunal accepted that the stress that Troicki was under at the time entitled him to mitigation, which is why his potential two-year ban was reduced to 18 months.

Troicki had another explanation: “I was feeling awfully bad on April 15th before, during and after the 1st round match against Jarkko Nieminen. I was selected for urine and blood test after the match and went to the doping control station after showering and stretching. I gave the urine samples and told the doctor I was feeling really bad and I believed that drawing blood would make me feel even worse. I always feel awful when I need to draw blood and that day I was scared I would end up in hospital. The doctor in charge of the testing told me that I looked very pale and ill, and that I could skip the test if I wrote an explanation letter to ITF about it. She dictated the letter to me and let me go without giving blood. She was very helpful and understanding. . . Now I am being charged for refusing to undergo a blood test without justification. This is a real nightmare. I was 100% sure everything was okay, just like my coach Jack Reader who was in the doping control station room with me during at least half of the procedure.”

In addition to the 18-month ban, Troicki forfeits ranking points and prize money from Monte Carlo. The Belgrade native lost to Jarkko Nieminen, 6-1, 6-2, in the Monte Carlo first round.

Troicki also said that that he did have a blood test from the same doping control officer the next morning and test results came back “negative, totally clean.”

But doping authorities would likely not take that into account as the reason why they want tests done immediately as some prohibited substances can be washed out the body in a matter of hours.

Troicki is suspended from participation for a period of 18 months, ending at midnight on January 24, 2015. It was also determined that Troicki’s results at the 2013 Monte Carlo Rolex Masters event should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of the ranking points and prize money that he won at that event. However he won’t lose points or money after Monte Carlo as there are no automatic “subsequent disqualification for refusal cases.”

Troicki said he’s been tested five times for blood and “many more times for urine,” has never “missed a test before” but did not consult with the ATP medical team to back him up” because the doping control officer “ showed me all her diplomas. . . The doping rules are strict and they must remain strict. But this was a clear mistake from the on-site doping control officer who was also a doctor, and the person in charge to decide. She let me go and reassured me. In my opinion once she found out that she didn’t follow the procedures she turned her back on me.”

He also said that he feels “destroyed and exhausted” and has “only been thinking only about this issue. And it is not over yet, so I can’t really describe it. I am not even angry with the doctor. I believe that maybe she was told by her organization that she made a big mistake letting me go she backed up and tried to save her job. . . feel like I am being treated like a criminal and I have not committed anything at all. I have a fear of the needle and I always have troubles drawing blood. But I always did. I am clean and will always be clean throughout my career.”

Troicki said he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sports in Lausanne and has spoken to fellow Serbian and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic who said “that he is sure it will end good because I am innocent, and that ATP should really back me up with this.”