Picture Credit: Twitter
American tennis player Jenson Brooksby has been handed 18 months ban for missing three drug tests in a 12-month window. The 22-year-old player from California, who reached a career world ranking of 33 in 2022, was charged after three whereabouts failures, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on October 25, Wednesday confirmed.
Notably, just moments later the announcement, the American tennis player took to social media to share the news, addressing his disappointment over it. “I am very disappointed to learn that I have been suspended for 18 months, for having 3 missed tests. I have never taken a banned substance in my life, and I was open and honest with the ITIA throughout my case,” his statement began.
In his statement he further added and accepted that the two missed tests were his fault but his test on June 4, 2022 should be set aside. Further explaining his side of the story of the last failed test, the young star stated, “Even having that information, the Doping Control Office never asked the hotel to call my room, so I did not know that the Doping Control Officer was there to test me - no call was made to my hotel room for the entire hour, and the Doping Control Officer only called my cell phone in the last 4 minutes of the testing window (at 6:56AM).”
Keep things clear, “J. T.” intended to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, the American later on in his next post confirmed that he was tested on Tuesday night, just hours after announcing the suspension.
The player revealed that this was his fifth test since March 2023 including one of it coming outside his one hour window. He also clarified that he has never failed a test.
The 22-year-old’s last match came at the Australian Open in January 2023 and will now be eligible to return to competition in January 2025.
