Russian tennis star, 20, banned for four years after breaking doping rules

A Russian tennis player has been suspended for FOUR years under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), according to The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Aleksei Mokrov, 20, received a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation back in April after an in-competition sample he provided was found to contain a prohibited substance.

The sample was split into A and B and the subsequent analysis found that both contained metabolites of Nandrolone, which is prohibited under the TADP, in the category of Anabolic Agents.

Nandrolone is a non-specified substance, and Mokrov did not possess a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the substance.

Mokrov denied the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and requested a hearing, which was held in October before an independent tribunal - and a ban running until January 2029 - was imposed.

A statement from ITIA started: "The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Aleksei Mokrov, a 20-year-old Russian tennis player, has been suspended for a period of four years under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).

"Mokrov contested the validity of their Adverse Analytical Finding for nandrolone, submitting that their November 2024 positive test for the prohibited substance should be dismissed as an unreliable sample, on the grounds that the World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory analysing the sample deviated from WADA's International Standards for Laboratories.

"The independent tribunal determined it was 'entirely unpersuaded' by Mokrov's argument, and that the player failed 'by some margin' to prove the assertion. The tribunal also noted that Mokrov made no attempt to explain the source of the positive test. As such, the player did not prove that the breach was unintentional."

The ITIA sent Mokrov a pre-charge notice of an ADRV back in January 2025 under Article 2.1 and 2.2 of the TADP.

Mokrov, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1413 in April 2025, delivered an in-competition sample while playing at a ITF World Tennis Tour M15 event in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2024.

Findings for non-specified substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension, and with Mokrov that has been in effect since 27 January 2025, meaning his ban is due to end on 26 January 2029.

During Mokrov's period out, he is not allowed to play in, coach in, or attend a tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Federation Francaise de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.