'GLAD THIS IS FINALLY OVER': MAX PURCELL ACCEPTS 18-MONTH BAN AFTER EXCEEDING IV INFUSION LIMIT

Max Purcell competing at the Nitto ATP finals one month before accepting a voluntary provisional suspension (Getty/Sportinfoto)

Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month suspension handed out by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for breaching anti-doping rules.

The decision means Purcell will be unable to compete until June 12th 2026, with part of his ban already served.

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The 27-year-old announced in December last year that he had entered a voluntary provisional suspension as the investigation played out.

He was deemed to have breached Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program due to the use of a Prohibited Method, to which Purcell admitted he had "unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins above the allowable limit of 100ml".

"Following a full investigation by the ITIA, which included evidence gathering and interviews with the player, Purcell admitted to the breaches," a statement from the ITIA read.

"The player’s full co-operation and information sharing with the ITIA allowed for a 25 per cent reduction in sanction.

"The player will also forfeit results and prize money from the date of their first ADRV (16 December 2023) to their first subsequent negative doping control sample, which was provided on 3 February 2024."

Part of the ITIA's eight-page explanation reveals that the tennis organisation "recovered data from the mobile phone of another professional tennis player", discovering WhatsApp messages exchanged between Purcell and the unnamed player.

It continued: "On 25 September 2024, the ITIA issued the Player with a demand to access and download relevant information from his mobile device(s) in accordance with TADP Article 5.7.3.1.

"The data recovered from the Player's mobile device confirmed the content of the messages that the ITIA had recovered from Player 2's mobile device, however some of the relevant messages were no longer on the player's phone. Evidence obtained from the Player's phone also confirmed that the Player often checked whether supplements and/or treatments he used and received were TADP compliant."

Two months later on November 29 2024, the ITIA arranged an interview with Purcell, as the Sydneysider explained he was "utterly shocked when the clinic sent me back records to indicate that the infusions were actually 500ml and over the allowance limit".

Purcell wrote a message on Instagram as the news broke, revealing he is "glad this is finally over".

"As announced by the ITIA, I've accepted a settlement for a period of ineligibility of 18 months with a loss of earnings from December 16th 2023-February 3rd 2024 (as February 3rd was my first doping test since December and returned a negative result, as all of my tests have).

"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 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 was nothing but cooperative with the ITIA.

"I'm so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life."

He later went on to say: "I have accepted the mistake I made and will make sure I'm even more diligent with everything regarding the integrity of the sport. I pride myself on being a clean athlete and have never been anything but that. Those who know me, know that I take my anti-doping duties very seriously. So seriously, that since December 2023, when I was added into the testing pool and asked to provide my whereabouts every single day, I even changed the background lock screen on my phone so I would never forget.

"I am excited for the challenge and hope you all get around me for my comeback when it's time!

"I'd also like to thank everyone for their support - it's meant everything to me.

"Tune in when chapter 2 is approaching. Much love."

Purcell recently won the doubles title alongside fellow Aussie and good friend Jordan Thompson at the US Open.

Thompson was critical of the decision when he spoke late last year, branding the situation "a joke".

"It’s a stitch-up. I mean, the guy took too much saltwater in an IV bag in Bali," he said.

"He was unwell, that’s why he went there. He went to the hospital.

"I have no good words for it. It’s a joke. I mean, guys are testing positive (for) performance enhancers and he’s (Purcell) gone out and taken too much saltwater (and) they’ve suspended him.

"Take of that what you will. Anyone looking at it goes, ‘It’s so unfair’."

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