ATP at fault in tennis nandrolone fiasco
The ATP, the governing body of men's professional tennis, may have been unwittingly feeding players banned performance-enhancing substances that wrongly forced Bohdan Ulihrach off the circuit.
Czech player Ulihrach was banned in May following a positive test for nandrolone. He will now have his two-year suspension, $43,770 fine and loss of 100 world ranking points overturned, and he is immediately eligible to play professional tournaments.
Internal controls and procedures have been tightened after it was discovered that an electrolyte replacement product dispensed to players by ATP trainers may have been contaminated with the prohibited nandrolone.
Under the new policies, ATP trainers will no longer dispense electrolyte tablets or other vitamin and mineral products to players.
Ulihrach said: "I am extremely pleased that this episode in my life is behind me so I can return to doing what I love to do most: play tennis. I am very glad and satisfied that the tribunal has confirmed what I stated from the outset; that I am innocent of these charges.
"I want to thank those who supported me throughout this period. The ATP was open with me after discovering these new facts. I also want to thank the tribunal for agreeing to my request for a second hearing and making the right decision to let me return to the game."
