Written By Slovakian tennis player Andrej Martin is facing a ban after reportedly violating doping rules. Martin, who is currently ranked 103 in the world, has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) pending an investigation into the matter.
The 32-year-old, who has won two ATP Tour titles in his career, was notified of his suspension on April 25, 2023. The ITF did not reveal the nature of the alleged doping violation, but confirmed that Martin has the right to request a hearing.
In a statement released to the media, the ITF said: “The International Tennis Federation confirms that Slovakian player Andrej Martin has been provisionally suspended under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) following a notification of a potential anti-doping rule violation.
“Mr. Martin has the right to request that his B sample be analysed and to appear before a tribunal established under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.”
Martin has been a regular fixture on the ATP Tour since turning professional in 2006. He has a career win-loss record of 105-120 and has reached a career-high ranking of 93 in the world.
The Slovakian’s best Grand Slam performance came at the 2022 Australian Open, where he reached the third round before losing to eventual runner-up Rafael Nadal.
Martin’s suspension comes at a time when tennis is facing increased scrutiny over its anti-doping policies. Last year, world number one Novak Djokovic was controversially disqualified from the US Open after inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball.
Earlier this year, former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki criticized the ITF’s anti-doping protocols, saying they were “not strict enough.”
“The testing isn’t as frequent as it should be,” Wozniacki said. “I think it should be more strict, especially with the top players. I don’t think I’ve been tested in the last two or three months, and that’s a bit strange.”
The ITF has defended its anti-doping policies, saying that it follows the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code and that it is committed to maintaining the integrity of the sport.
“The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognized programme that is fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency code,” the ITF said in a statement.
“The ITF is committed to ensuring that tennis remains a clean sport and will continue to work with the tennis community and anti-doping agencies to achieve this goal.”
Martin has yet to comment on the suspension, and it is not clear how long he will be banned for if found guilty of violating the doping rules. The tennis world will be watching closely as the investigation unfolds and the outcome is announced.
