Former Australian Tennis Player Banned for Four Years Amid Doping Violations
A former Australian tennis player and coach has been handed a four-year ban from the sport following a significant investigation into doping violations. Marinko Matosevic, once ranked as high as world No. 39 and the Australian No. 1, has been found to have engaged in multiple breaches of anti-doping rules, including the use of prohibited substances and methods, facilitating blood doping for another player, and offering advice on how to evade detection.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) recently released its detailed findings, confirming the severity of Matosevic’s actions. The ban prevents him from coaching, competing, or attending any tennis events sanctioned by the ITIA, such as those organised by the ATP, WTA, or Tennis Australia, which includes the prestigious Australian Open.
Admissions and Revelations
Matosevic himself came forward in February, acknowledging he was under investigation. He admitted to undergoing a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico, in early 2018, describing the act as “stupidly and recklessly” done. At the time, he was 32 and competed in his final professional tournament, the Indian Wells qualifiers, just one week after the transfusion.
The ITIA’s investigation uncovered extensive communication between Matosevic and other players, whose identities remain undisclosed in the published findings. These exchanges shed light on Matosevic’s involvement in illicit activities while competing in Mexico.
- Blood Doping in Mexico: In early 2018, Matosevic travelled to Mexico for an ATP Challenger Tour event. During this period, he was in regular contact with “Player B.” Text messages from February 2018 reveal their joint activities, including visiting a clinic, undergoing blood doping, making payments to a doctor introduced by a friend of Player B, and discussing the performance-enhancing effects they experienced.
- Perceived Performance Boost: Following the procedure, Matosevic reported a significant improvement in his physical condition. He described practising at “full power” with training feeling unusually easy. These communications occurred while both players were in Morelos and during Matosevic’s participation in the tournament.
Clenbuterol and Evasion Tactics
Beyond blood doping, Matosevic was also found to have possessed and used clenbuterol, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as an “anabolic agent.” The ITIA’s findings included correspondence from eight years ago where Matosevic referred to “Player B” as “Lance,” which the ITIA interprets as a reference to Lance Armstrong.
Further evidence emerged regarding Matosevic’s advice on clenbuterol and avoiding detection:
- Advice on Clenbuterol Timing: In April 2024, Matosevic communicated with an individual, referred to as “[redacted],” about clenbuterol. When asked about fat-burning supplements, Matosevic recommended clenbuterol, stating it was what athletes used and that it was banned. He described it as “very clean” and obtainable “over the counter in Indonesia.” He explained its oral administration and suggested a gym contact could procure it. Crucially, he admitted, “I’ve done it. I’ve cheated with it,” noting its effects included an elevated heart rate and increased sweating.
- Facilitating Evasion: The ITIA also published messages between Matosevic and an unknown player, “Player A,” concerning the optimal timing for a blood sample submission before the 2020 Australian Open. Player A was required to provide a sample between January 12 and 19, 2020. Player A confirmed their last use of “clen” (clenbuterol) was on December 14, 2019. Matosevic reassured Player A that “clen is gone under 10 days” and advised them to “[s]leep easy.” Following this advice, Player A scheduled their blood test for January 19, 2020, the final day of the testing window.
Coaching Connections and Criticism of Anti-Doping Systems
Matosevic has been involved in coaching several current Australian players, including Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson. This masthead is not implying any wrongdoing on the part of O’Connell or Thompson.
Matosevic has been vocal in his criticism of the ITIA’s investigation process. In an interview with tennis website The First Serve, he expressed his dismay, stating, “They take your phone under threatening circumstances and make legal cases over photos and text message assumptions that are literally over five years old.” He further asserted, “The whole process is corrupt and lacks credibility… These are man-made rules that get changed on a whim and to suit questionable objectives; they are not moral or right.”
However, the ITIA dismissed Matosevic’s complaints within its findings. The agency defended the practice of requesting and obtaining a player’s phone, deeming it an “orthodox investigative tool” necessary due to the inherent challenges in detecting and prosecuting doping offences. The ITIA stated that while inconvenient, this is a requirement professional athletes understand as part of an effective anti-doping system.
Matosevic’s ban is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining a clean sport and the rigorous scrutiny applied to athletes and those associated with them. His admissions and the ITIA’s detailed findings highlight the complex web of actions that constitute anti-doping rule violations.
