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DOPING: WIMBLEDON GIANT-KILLER HADDAD MAIA PROVISIONALLY SUSPENDED

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BY PATRICK O’KANE

Brazilian tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after failing a drugs test during the Croatia Open at the start of June.

The 23-year-old made headlines at Wimbledon this month by ousting former champion Garbiñe Muguruza in the first round after coming through qualifying.

The top-ranked Brazilian women’s player now faces a different spotlight after her June 4 urine sample was found to contain selective androhen receptor modulators (SARMs).

An ITF statement said: “Beatriz Haddad Maia has been provisionally suspended under Article 8.3.1(c) of the 2019 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, pending determination of the charge against her at a full hearing pursuant to Article 8 of the Programme.

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“Ms Haddad Maia, a 23-year-old player from Brazil, provided a urine sample on June 4, 2019 in association with her participation in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Croatia Bol Open held in Bol, Croatia from June 3 to June 9. 

“That sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain SARM S-22 and SARM LGD-4033 metabolite. 

“SARM S-22 and SARM LGD-4033 are non-specified substances, which are prohibited under category S1 of the 2019 WADA Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents), and therefore are also prohibited under the programme. 

“Positive tests for non-specified substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension.”

The ITF statement says Haddad Maia was charged with an anti-doping rule violation on July 12 and was provisionally suspended with effect from July 22.

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It added: “Ms Haddad Maia had (and retains) the right to apply to the chair of the Independent Tribunal convened to hear her case why the provisional suspension should not be imposed, but has chosen not to exercise that right to date.

“The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme applies to all players competing at Grand Slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the ITF, Association of Tennis Professionals, and WTA.

“Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and, upon a finding that an anti-doping rule violation has been committed, sanctions are imposed under the programme in compliance with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code.”

Haddad Maia defeated Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 before losing to Britain’s Harriet Dart 6-7, 6-3, 1-6 in round two at Wimbledon.

The world number 99 player recently returned to the tour following a back injury which saw her miss the 2018 French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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