American tennis players handed one month suspension following positive test for cannabis

American tennis player Nathan Ponwith has accepted a one-month suspension from the sport following a positive drug test going against the guidelines under tennis' anti-doping rules.

The 28-year-old tested positive for cannabis at a World Tennis Tour event in San Jose, Costa Rica, in February 2026. Cannabis is on the list of prohibited drugs tennis players cannot take while competing.

Ponwith explained that he had taken it outside of competition, which was accepted by the ITIA. Under world anti-doping runes, the usual suspension for this type of case would be three months. This, however, can be pushed down to one month if the person in question commits to a treatment programme approved by the ITIA.

It reads: "If the Player can establish that any ingestion or Use occurred Out-of-Competition and was unrelated to sport performance, the period of Ineligibility will be three months, provided that it may be further reduced to one month if the Player satisfactorily completes a Substance of Abuse treatment program approved by the ITIA. The period of Ineligibility established in this Article 10.2.4.1 is not subject to any reduction based on any provision in Article 10.6."

Ponwith chose to limit the damage and enter into a treatment programme. Thus, his suspension from tennis has been reduced from three months to one month and he will be able to return to action following the end of his suspension on 18 July 2026.

While undergoing this suspension, Ponwith is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association. He will have time to ponder his actions before making a return back to action.

Ponwith will hope to get back to his best form following this frustrating time sidelined from action. With tennis so hard to sustain at this level with the costs involved astronomical and almost unsustainable for some, he will be hoping to get back onto the court and winning in no time.

He reached a career-high world singles ranking of 367 in June 2023 in a year where he won two ITF titles at M25 level. They were added to his maiden triumph back in 2019 in Champaign, Illinois.

His last final came back in 2024 when he lost to Brit Oliver Tarvet in San Diego. Now down to world number 1,278 in the ATP rankings, he finished 2025 outside of the top 1000 for the first time in a decade. He will be hoping to find his best level once more upon his eventual return to action.