"I think it's a bit of a joke": Jordan Thompson slams Max Purcell's doping ban

Australia’s Jordan Thompson has lambasted authorities for handing a ban to his fellow countryman Max Purcell. The 26-year-old has recently tested positive for a doping test and was admitted to voluntary suspension, which would see him out of action for the upcoming Australian Open.

Purcell accepted the decision and admitted he failed to follow the protocol while receiving an IV infusion of vitamins. Thompson has been recently quoted in a report where he criticised authorities for handing a ban to his fellow countryman. The 30-year-old called the decision a ‘joke’.

“It wasn't great news for me and Maxy, especially Max. I think it's a bit of a joke, but there's not a lot I can do about it,” said Thompson. “I don't think he's quite happy and neither am I to be honest. He took too much in an IV bag … to get suspended for that when there are other people who have done far worse and sometimes just get a slap on the wrist it's a bit of a joke I think ... but it's not up to me to decide what happens. When you look at guys testing positive and then you have Max taking just too much in an IV bag, it's a head scratcher.”

The criticism is directed towards authorities after their decisions raised eyebrows following recent scandals involving two big-name players. Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol in two doping tests back in March. Despite that, interestingly, the 23-year-old managed to escape any ban as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the player’s counsel’s response where they claimed that the availability of the banned substance in the player’s sample was because of receiving cream for the treatment of an injury from one member of the coaching staff. On the other hand, women’s world number Iga Swiatek also received a one-month ban after testing positive for trimetazidine.