Italian tennis player Sara Errani banned for two months for doping violation

Italian player Sara Errani has been suspended for two months after a hearing concluded she accidentally took her mother’s medication for breast cancer, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) confirmed on Monday.

The 30-year-old former French Open finalist was subjected to an out-of-competition test in February while staying with her parents and her urine sample was found to contain letrozole – a substance used in the treatment of breast cancer.

Letrozole is on the banned drug list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which describes it as an aromatase inhibitor that can act as a hormonal and metabolic stimulant.

In such cases bans of between 0 and 24 months are required.

“The Tribunal takes into account the circumstances involved in this case and that the player has not only an unblemished record but has demonstrated, through her evidence which we accept, having been otherwise meticulous in taking precautions to ensure that she acted in compliance with the TADP (tennis anti doping programme),” it said.

“As a result of the findings that the Tribunal has made, it concludes that the degree of fault is at the lowest end of the scale.”

Errani said in a statement posted on her Twitter account: “I can only stand still and wait for this period to come to an end. I am extremely disappointed, but at the same time at peace with my conscience and aware I haven’t done anything wrong.”

 

 

(Pic: twitter.com/saraerrani)