An independent tribunal conducted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended American tennis player Jenson Brooksby for a duration of 18 months. The decision comes in light of Brooksby’s failure to comply with the whereabouts requirements on three separate occasions within a 12-month period.
The 22-year-old player, who had achieved his career-high ranking of 33rd in the previous year, voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension earlier. The imposed sanction will be backdated to July 5, 2023, and is set to conclude on January 4, 2025, according to the ITIA.
Brooksby had previously asserted that he had never failed a drug test or taken prohibited substances. The ITIA, however, disclosed that Brooksby admitted to missing the first and third scheduled tests but disputed the circumstances surrounding the second missed test.
The failure to comply with whereabouts regulations, as in Brooksby’s case, constitutes an anti-doping rule violation, as per the ITIA’s regulations. Brooksby has a 21-day window to appeal against the tribunal’s decision by submitting his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“The whereabouts program plays a critical role in upholding the integrity of the sport. It is vital that athletes adhere to these rules to maintain a clean and fair playing field,” emphasized ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse in a statement. The ITIA aims to ensure that players do not breach the regulations that govern the sport’s integrity and fairness.
