Jenson Brooksby faces 18-month suspension for missing three surprise anti-doping tests
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Jenson Brooksby, the American tennis player, has been handed an 18-month suspension after an independent tribunal found him guilty of missing three drug tests within a year. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) stated that Brooksby accepted his “whereabouts failures” for two of the missed tests, while the tribunal found him to be at high fault for the third test. Antidoping rules allow athletes to be penalized without a positive test if they miss three “whereabout failures” within a year.
Brooksby, who has never taken a banned substance in his life, wrote on social media, “I understand that it is my responsibility and will learn and grow.” He accepted that two of the missed tests were his fault but maintained that his missed test on June 4, 2022, should be set aside.
He explained that he did not know a doping control officer was trying to find him that morning, and his cellphone was on silent when there was a call to it, and his hotel room was never called. “I was awake and had nothing to hide,” Brooksby wrote, adding that he intends to appeal the ruling.
He’s positive about his future on tennis
Brooksby, who turns 23 on Thursday, has been ranked as high as No. 33 and is currently at No. 301 after undergoing two operations for dislocated wrist tendons earlier this year. His last match on tour was in January, where he beat Casper Ruud at the Australian Open before losing to eventual semifinalist Tommy Paul. Brooksby’s best result at a major tournament was reaching the fourth round at the 2021 US Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
Despite the setback, Brooksby remains positive about his future in tennis. “I will be back,” he wrote on social media, “and I hope it will be soon.”
The ITIA’s decision serves as a reminder to all athletes of their responsibility to comply with antidoping regulations. Athletes must be aware of their “whereabouts” and ensure they can be located for testing at all times. The ITIA’s statement on Brooksby’s suspension reinforces their commitment to maintaining a level playing field in tennis.
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