Doping ban: Nicholas Jarry and Robert Farah with positive tests
A black day for tennis: It was announced today that Nicolas Jarry and Robert Farah were two of the doping athletes who were convicted and therefore banned for the time being. Both affirm their innocence in the first statements and want to do everything possible to prove it.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 14, 2020, 08:42 pm
January 14th will be a sad memory for many tennis fans. Two doping cases in tennis became known today. With Nicolas Jarry and double specialist Robert Farah, two absolute top players are affected by the accusations this time.
Nicolas Jarry tested as part of the Davis Cup
In the case of 24-year-old Nicolas Jarry, the drug test was several weeks ago. Specifically, it was November 19 when the Chilean had to give two urine samples during the Davis Cup final. In a first statement, current number 78 told the world what had happened: “It is one of the hardest moments of my life, I want to tell you what happened: I had two urine samples taken during the Davis Cup, which was the first okay, in the second you found two banned substances. It was an extremely low concentration: neither of them would have helped me to perform better. ”
“I want to explain that I have never intentionally or deliberately taken any prohibited substance in my tennis career. I categorically reject doping. I will invest the coming time to find out where these substances come from so that my team and I can resolve this situation, ”said Jarry.
As a first suspicion, the Chilean expressed that it could be a cross-contamination by multi-vitamin preparations from Brazil. He only took them because he was assured that they were free of banned substances. The ban applies from now until a hearing that has not yet been terminated. According to the ITF, traces of the banned substances ligandrol and stanozolol have been found in the urine sample.
With Robert Farah also a number one affected
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, it became known that the double specialist and number one in the world, Robert Farah, would not start at the Australian Open for personal reasons. A few hours later, Farah announced that the ITF had informed him that he was tested positive for the illicit substance Boldenona in October. "I won't be able to play at the Australian Open, an event I've been preparing for since December," the 32-year-old said on Twitter.
Farah also believes that it is an unfortunate accident. "As the Colombian Olympic Committee noted in 2018, this substance is common in Colombian meat and can affect athletes' test results," said Farah. He announced that he would discuss the next steps with his team to prove that he had not taken this substance voluntarily.
Alongside Juan Sebastian Cabal, Robert Farah won two Grand Slam tournaments in 2019 with the US Open and Wimbledon. At the Australian Open, two co-favorites for the title will be missing.
Both athletes now have the opportunity to express their point of view and possibly prove their innocence at a hearing. When these will take place is still unclear at the current time.