World No. 489 Alejandro Gomez has been provisionally suspended over the breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. Gomez, who was never ranked higher than No. 352 in the world, spent the 2021 season on the ITF and Challenger Tour.
Gomez made one Futures final earlier this year and he had no notable results on the Challenger Tour. Gomez last played at the Rio de Janeiro Challenger last week, where he lost in the round-of-16. “Alejandro Gomez has been provisionally suspended under Article 7.12.1 of the 2021 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the “Programme”), pending determination of the charge against him at a full hearing pursuant to Article 8 of the Programme,” the ITF’s statement read.
Gomez provided a sample in October
Gomez was tested at the Bogota Challenger, where he made the round-of-16. “Mr. Gomez, a 30-year-old player from Colombia, provided a urine sample on 19 October 2021 in association with his participation in the Bogota Challenger held in Bogota, Colombia from 18 October to 24 October 2021.
That sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain cocaine metabolite. Cocaine is a Non-Specified substance, which is prohibited under category S6 of the 2021 WADA Prohibited List (Stimulants), and therefore also prohibited under the Programme.
Positive tests for Non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory Provisional Suspension,” the ITF’s statement continued. “Mr. Gomez was sent a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and/or Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid TUE) on 30 November and was Provisionally Suspended with effect from 15 December.
Mr. Gomez had (and retains) the right to apply to the Chair of the Independent Tribunal convened to hear his case why the Provisional Suspension should not be imposed (or should be vacated), but has not exercised that right to date.” It remains to be seen when will Gomez be allowed to return to action.
This news is republished from another source. You can check the original article here