Tennis star slapped with four-year ban and forced to hand back prize money

FORMER Australian tennis star Marinko Matosevic has been banned from the sport for four years over alleged doping offences. Matosevic, 40, was once Australia’s No 1 player and reached a career-high of No 39 back in 2013. He eventually retired in 2018 before becoming a tennis coach. But an independent tribunal found that Matosevic committed five anti-doping breaches between 2018 and 2020. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said the alleged offences included “use of a prohibited method through blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating another player to blood dope, providing advice to other players on how to avoid positive tests, and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol”. Matosevic’s achievements from two tournaments he played in 2018 have been voided and he must pay the prize money back. He was formally charged in May 2025 before the case was referred to the tribunal. Matosevic previously denied all charges against him before admitting to blood doping in a scathing social media post where he slammed ITIA officials. In a statement, he wrote: “I am writing this confession letter firstly to warn other athletes against doing anything that may harm their health and put their lives at risk. “Because there is a long life after an athlete’s career. Secondly, I am writing this letter to let the tennis world know how corrupt and unjust the ITIA process is. “They take your phone number under threatening circumstances and make legal cases over photos and text message assumptions that are literally five years old. “The whole process is corrupt and lacks credibility, as we have seen over the last few years!” However, the tribunal dismissed Matosevic’s claims and insisted the ITIA “acted within the authority conferred by the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).” Independent tribunal chair Michael Heron KC claimed Matosevic’s actions “went far beyond passive association and constitute intentional participation” in violation of TADP. He added that his “conduct strikes at the integrity of the anti-doping framework”. His ban is set to end on March 15, 2030, “subject to repayment of outstanding prize money”. Until the suspension is served, Matosevic is banned from 2playing in or coaching at any tennis event or activity” associated with a major tennis organisation. Matosevic, who was born in Bosnia and Herzogovina, turned pro in 2003. His best result at a Grand Slam saw him reach the second round of Wimbledon and the French Open in 2014.