ֱ

Australian doubles player Purcell accepts 18-month doping ban

Australian doubles player Purcell accepts 18-month doping ban
Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell’s ban will end on June 11, 2026, taking into account time served out of the sport. (AP)
Short Url
Updated 29 April 2025

Australian doubles player Purcell accepts 18-month doping ban

Australian doubles player Purcell accepts 18-month doping ban
  • Max Purcell has admitted receiving intravenous vitamin infusions of more than 500ml on December 16 and 20, 2023
  • The limit under the World Anti-Doping Code is 100ml in a 12-hour period

SYDNEY: Australia’s two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month doping ban, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old in December took a voluntary suspension, describing himself at the time as “devastated” and saying he had not intended to break anti-doping rules.
Purcell has admitted receiving intravenous vitamin infusions of more than 500ml on December 16 and 20, 2023. The limit under the World Anti-Doping Code is 100ml in a 12-hour period.
His ban will end on June 11, 2026, taking into account time served out of the sport.
He will also forfeit results and prize money for the period between December 16, 2023 and February 3, 2024.
Purcell’s co-operation and information sharing with the ITIA allowed for a 25 percent reduction in sanction, it said.
ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said: “This case does not involve a player testing positive for a prohibited substance but demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that.”
Writing on Instagram, Purcell said: “I have accepted the mistake I made and will make sure I’m even more diligent with everything regarding the integrity of the sport.”
Purcell won the 2022 Wimbledon doubles title alongside fellow Australian Matt Ebden and the US Open crown in 2024 with Jordan Thompson.
In his social media post, Purcell said he had been unable to sleep and eat properly because of his worries over the case.
“I’m so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life,” he added.
It is the latest doping controversy in tennis.
Former women’s number one Iga Swiatek is back in action after last year accepting a one-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
Men’s number one Jannik Sinner has been out of action since accepting a three-month doping ban in February after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March last year.
The three-time Grand Slam winner is due to return before the Rome Open, which runs from May 7-18.


Pistons run win streak to seven games on night of NBA thrillers

Pistons run win streak to seven games on night of NBA thrillers
Updated 13 sec ago

Pistons run win streak to seven games on night of NBA thrillers

Pistons run win streak to seven games on night of NBA thrillers
  • In another overtime drama, Norman Powell scored 33 points and Andrew Wiggins added 23, including the winning dunk at the overtime buzzer to lift Miami over Cleveland 140-138
  • Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominating performance with 38 points, 12 rebounds, five blocked shots and five assists to lead San Antonio Spurs in a 121-117 triumph at Chicago

WASHINGTON: Cade Cunningham’s triple double, Daniss Jenkins’s three-pointer at the buzzer and Javonte Green’s overtime dunk lifted Detroit past Washington 137-135 on Monday, stretching the Pistons’ win streak to seven games.

In an unexpected thriller, the NBA’s second-best team barely outlasted a Wizards club that fell to an NBA-worst 1-10 with their ninth consecutive loss.

“We knew how big this game was for us,” Jenkins said. “We wasn’t going to let nothing stop us from getting this W.”

Cunningham made 14-of-45 shots for a career-high 46 points and added 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and two blocked shots as Detroit improved to 9-2.

“He’s the one who is going to lead this team whatever we do,” Detroit’s Jalen Duren said of Cunningham. “And to see him fight through and be the great player he is gave us the confidence.”

Jenkins came off the bench for a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds while Duren added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons.

C.J. McCollum, who led Washington with 42 points, sank a floater with 14 seconds remaining to give the Wizards a 126-121 lead.

But Jenkins, who hadn’t played in three games, sank a three-pointer with three seconds remaining and, after a Kyshawn George free throw for Washington, hit another three-pointer at the buzzer to equalize at 127-127 and force overtime.

“I told myself if I got that ball I was going to shoot it,” Jenkins said. “He trusted me and passed it to me and it went in.

“I know what I’m capable of. I just had to believe in myself and trust in my work.”

Duren said of Jenkins: “He never shies away from the moment. He’s going to be a great player in this league and that showed tonight.”

In the extra session, Duncan Robinson’s three-pointer gave Detroit the lead and Green’s dunk made it 136-133 with 25 seconds remaining.

George added a layup for the Wizards and Duren sank a free throw to create the final margin. McCollum missed two three-point attempts in the dying seconds and the Pistons escaped with a triumph.

In another overtime drama, Norman Powell scored 33 points and Andrew Wiggins added 23, including the winning dunk at the overtime buzzer to lift Miami over Cleveland 140-138, ending the Cavaliers’ four-game win streak to leave both clubs 7-4.

Jaime Jaquez’s jumper with 7.1 seconds remaining lifted Miami level at 128-128 to force overtime.

Powell sank two free throws with 6.5 seconds left for a 138-135 Miami edge but Donovan Mitchell made a three-pointer with 0.4 of a second remaining to lift the Cavs level.

Not to be outdone, Miami won at the buzzer when Wiggins made an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Nikola Jovic.

Mitchell led the Cavs with 28 points and 15 rebounds.

Another tension-packed contest came in Orlando, where Desmond Bane’s three-pointer at the final buzzer gave the host Magic a 115-112 home victory over Portland.

Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 28 points while Bane added 22, missing all five of his three-point shots before hitting the game winner.

Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 31 points.

Wemby sparks Spurs

Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominating performance with 38 points, 12 rebounds, five blocked shots and five assists to lead the San Antonio Spurs in a 121-117 triumph at Chicago.

The Frenchman was 11-of-19 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from three-point range, and 10-of-10 from the free throw line while De’Aaron Fox added 21 for the Spurs.

Luka Doncic had a game-high 38 points with seven assists and six rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers in a 121-111 victory at Charlotte.

Austin Reaves added 24 points and Japan’s Rui Hachimura contributed 21 for the Lakers while Miles Bridges scored 34 points to lead the Hornets.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and added eight rebounds and six assists in a 116-114 Bucks victory at Dallas.