'Devastated' Max Purcell breaks silence about bizarre reasons behind anti-doping suspension ahead of Australian Open 2025

US Open doubles champion Max Purcell has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The Australian recently broke his silence about the news, penning a lengthy note about the situation.

On Monday (December 23) the ITIA announced that Purcell has entered a voluntary provisional suspension under the sport’s anti-doping regulations. According to an official statement, the sanction comes after the Grand Slam champions came forward and admitted to violating Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program “relating to the use of a Prohibited Method.”

Now, Max Purcell has opened up about the situation in a lengthy note on Instagram. He explained that the anti-doping breach was a result of an error on the part of a medical clinic, writing:

“As announced by the ITIA today, I have voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension since I unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins above the allowable limit of 100 ml. Until last week when I received medical records from a clinic showing that the amount of an IV I had received was above 100 ml, I was fully convinced that I had done everything to ensure that I had followed the WADA regulations and methods.

"But the records show that the IV was over that 100ml limit, even though I told the medical clinic that I was a professional athlete and needed the IV to be below 100 ml.”

Purcell went on to add that the news was devastating to him, but he had volunteered the information in order to be transparent.

“This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe. I volunteered this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this whole situation behind me. I look forward to being back on the court soon.”

According to ITIA’s statement, Purcell’s suspension came into effect on December 12, and the time he serves under the current provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction.

Max Purcell’s 2024 season

Max Purcell at the Nitto ATP Finals 2024 (Image Source: Getty)

For Max Purcell, 2024 has been an impressive year. He began the season on a high note as he reached the men's doubles semifinals at the Brisbane International, partnered with Jordan Thompson. The duo went on to win the ATP 250 Dallas Open and Mifel Tennis Open events in February.

Purcell and Thompson continued their impressive run on the ATP 250 circuit with a title finish at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship. The pair's first big performance of the season came at Wimbledon, where they reached the finals before losing to Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

A month later, Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson stormed to the win at the US Open, having taken down top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the quarterfinals. The duo wrapped up their season with semifinal appearances at the ATP Masters 1000 Paris and the Nitto ATP Finals.