WTA Champion Cagla Buyukakcay pleads innocence after ITF doping ban

The ITF announced on November 5th, 2021 that the Turkish player has been provisionally suspended under Article 7.12.1 of the 2021 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. The decision will be reviewed after a full hearing on the matter is being done. The statement from the ITF further read:

"Ms. Buyukakcay, a 32-year-old player from Turkey, provided a urine sample on 3 August 2021 in association with her participation in the WTA Winners Open, played in Cluj-Napoca, Romania from 2-8 August 2021. That sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain Ractopamine. Ractopamine is a non-Specified Substance, which is prohibited under category S1 of the 2021 WADA Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents), and therefore also prohibited under the Programme.!

The player herself released a statement which reads:

“The only logical conclusion that I can reach to account for the presence of Ractopamine in my body is that I consumed contaminated meat. I provided receipts to show that I consumed tenderloin steaks twice in the days leading up to my match, but the Independent Tribunal did not accept my explanation and the ITF moved forward with my provisional suspension, meaning my case will be reviewed. There has been no final decision made yet.”

The statemetnt further read:

“I am very careful about what I eat or consume. I am a long-time professional player living with the knowledge of anti-doping rules and regulations. I have paid meticulous attention to comply with the rules throughout my career."