[Scukonaher]

From the ITF:

The International Tennis Federation announced today that Kristina Antoniychuk has been found to have committed a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in player’s sample).

Ms Antoniychuk, a 19-year-old tennis player from Ukraine, provided a sample on 22 February 2010 at the 2010 Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC Event held in Acapulco, Mexico. That sample was sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain furosemide, a diuretic. Furosemide is a Prohibited Substance under the 2010 WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, and is therefore also prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. Ms Antoniychuk was therefore charged with an anti-doping rule violation under Article C.1 of the Programme.

Ms Antoniychuk asserted that the furosemide had got into her system through her therapeutic use of the substance, which was prescribed by a doctor. She presented evidence that she been prescribed furosemide to treat a medical condition, and denied any intent to enhance her performance.

The ITF accepted Ms Antoniychuk’s account of the circumstances surrounding her ingestion of furosemide, and accepted that she did not intend to enhance her performance. Under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, however, it is a player’s strict personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substance enters his/her body, whether as a prescription medication or otherwise, unless he/she holds a valid therapeutic use exemption for such substance.

The ITF therefore confirmed Ms Antoniychuk’s commission of a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, and determined that she should be suspended from participation for a period of fourteen months, commencing as from 22 February 2010 and so ending on 21 April 2011. The ITF also determined that Ms Antoniychuk’s results including and subsequent to the 2010 Acapulco event should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of the ranking points and prize money that she won at those events.

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognised drug-testing programme that applies to all players competing at tournaments sanctioned by the ITF, ATP World Tour, and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and upon a finding that a Doping Offence has been committed, sanctions are imposed in accordance with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code. More background information on the Programme, sanctions, tennis statistics and related information can be found at www.itftennis.com/antidoping.

[KatoabamyHant]

Who?

[u2ZQGC6b]

A promising junior she was...

[Scukonaher]

Who?

She is a former top 10 junior that was doing well on the ITF circuit.

[jessyhalm]

Am I to understand that she is going to be punished so harshly even through she has provided evidence that she was taking the substance for a legitimate medical condition?

Or...she just didn't follow the rules and get a "exemption"? I wonder if she even knew.....

[Scukonaher]

Am I to understand that she is going to be punished so harshly even through she has provided evidence that she was taking the substance for a legitimate medical condition?

Or...she just didn't follow the rules and get a "exemption"? I wonder if she even knew.....

You know, furosemide is probably the most popular diuretic and I'm thinking chances are slim to none that she or someone around her didn't know it was a forbidden substance.

[kilibry]

Am I to understand that she is going to be punished so harshly even through she has provided evidence that she was taking the substance for a legitimate medical condition?

Or...she just didn't follow the rules and get a "exemption"? I wonder if she even knew.....

There is something to be said for not just putting things blindly into your body, even if a doctor gives it to you.

[ChuttyAmult]

I seem to remember a case with a young American who took a cold medicine that contained a banned substance, one that was a performance enhancer. I think she got 6 months, and they said something about her youth playing a part in their decision. If I am remembering correctly, then this seems a bit harsh.

[qwerty1]

Well this sucks. I just starting keeping an eye on her too.

[Smabeabumjess]

TLDNR.



JK, but I hadn't heard of her either.

[whatisthebluepill]

Wow 3 doping case in the last 3 months.....

[Abofedrorobox]

Am I to understand that she is going to be punished so harshly even through she has provided evidence that she was taking the substance for a legitimate medical condition?

Or...she just didn't follow the rules and get a "exemption"? I wonder if she even knew.....

You can probably thank your man Andre.