ITF Identifies Ukrainian Player for Drug Suspension

The International Tennis Federation has announced that Kristina Antoniychuk, ranked 182, has been found to have committed a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (presence of a Prohibited Substance in player’s sample).

Antoniychuk, a 19-year-old from Ukraine, provided a sample on February 22 at the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC Event held in Acapulco, Mexico, which 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 Program. Ms Antoniychuk was therefore charged with an anti-doping rule violation under Article C.1 of the Program.

The player asserted that the furosemide had got into her system through medication prescribed by a doctor and denied any intent to enhance her performance. However, under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program 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. As a result, Antoniychuk has been suspended for a period of fourteen months commencing from February 22, and her results including and subsequent to the Acapulco event should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of the ranking points and prize money that she won at those events.