14-year old Russian player handed ban for doping

A teenage player from Russia was randomly tested for banned substances and his test came up positive resulting in a ban.

There has been speculation that Russia encourages its athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs which has resulted in some problems with the Olympics in the past as well. Now, a 14-yeard old tennis player from the country was handed a ban after testing positive for a banned substance.

He tested positive for meldonium during a random test earlier this year and received a 9-month ban. His sample was taken in January in what was only his second senior event. The substance in question increases the capacity of the body to carry more oxygen.

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TADP (Tennis Anti-Doping Programm) released a statement:

“Due to the player’s age, level and lack of access to anti-doping education, the sanction was set at nine months, backdated to the date of the player’s provisional suspension (March 5). This means that the player is ineligible to compete in or attend any tennis events authorised, organised or sanctioned by the governing bodies of the sport until December 4, 2022.”