Former Australian tennis player Marinko Matosevic gets four-year doping suspension

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/matosevic-marinko/AN0tKM3M/"]Matosevic[/a], 40, ‌reached a career-high singles ranking of 39 in 2013. He retired ‌from the sport in 2018 and has since ‌become a coach, working with Australian players Chris O'Connell and ‌Jordan Thompson.[/p][p]"An independent tribunal determined that Matosevic committed five ‌anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020...," the ITIA said in a statement.[/p][p]"... including use of a prohibited method through ‌blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating ⁠[b]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[/b]."[/p][p]In a statement published by ​Australian tennis website 'The First Serve' in February, Matosevic admitted he underwent a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico towards ⁠the end of his ​playing career.[/p][p]"I was disgusted with myself, I retired the following week at the age of 32-and-a-half," he added.[/p][p]"[b]Shortly after I realised how precious life is and how ‌serious and reckless my decision was. I wasn't involved in tennis at all for almost two years and pro tennis for three.[/b][/p][p]"[b]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[/b]."[/p][p]In the same statement, Matosevic slammed the ITIA's ‌methods, alleging that many of the claims against him ​were based on his text messages and saying ‌that the anti-doping systems in tennis needed to be "dismantled".[/p][p]"The tribunal also dismissed Matosevic's public allegations relating to the integrity of the ITIA's investigation process as without merit, and that the ITIA 'acted within the ⁠authority conferred by the (Tennis ⁠Anti-Doping Programme)'," the ITIA ‌said on Monday.[/p]