ATP Tour - Volandri banned for doping

Eurosport - Sat, 17 Jan 08:36:00 2009

Italy's Filippo Volandri has been suspended for three months after testing positive for a banned stimulant and will miss next week's Australian Open.

TENNIS 2008 Italy Filippo Volandri - 0

"The independent tribunal found a sample provided by Mr Volandri on 13 March 2008 at the ATP Tour event in Indian Wells ... contained salbutamol at a concentration greater than 1,000 ng/ml," the International Tennis Federation said.

The 27-year-old, ranked 109th in the world, blamed his failed test on an inhaler he takes for asthma.

Volandri said he had a medical exemption certificate to use Ventolin, which contains salbutamol, to treat his condition but was deemed to have exceeded his limit.

"The tribunal accepted Mr Volandri had not taken salbutamol with intent to enhance his sporting performance, rather he had taken salbutamol to treat his asthma," the ITF added.

"However, it found his ATUE (exemption certificate) only permitted him to use asthma medication in line with generally accepted asthma treatment guidelines, and that the amount of salbutamol he inhaled was not consistent with such use and so could not be said to be proper therapeutic use.

"The tribunal therefore found a doping offence had been committed."

Volandri, ranked 25th in the world in 2007, had been scheduled to play Croatia's Mario Ancic in the first round at Melbourne Park.

His ban will last until April 14.

He will also have to forfeit any prize money and ranking points he earned at the Indian Wells tournament, where he was knocked out in the first round, and in all subsequent tournaments from August 18 when he was informed of the positive test.

He played in six tournaments, principally in Italy, from August 18 and won almost $27,000, which earned him 90 rankings points.

The ITF said Volandri could appeal the decision but still would not be able to play during that time.

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Reuters

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. I wanted to add I hate cheaters too. But saying Fed­ lost to Volandri in Rome because Volandri took some­ medicine against his ashtmatic condition is just crazy­ !!

    From teapsky, on Mon 19 Jan 6:34PM

  2. Political correctness gone mad... They should be­ hitting cycling harder than ever

    From Melanie, on Sun 18 Jan 6:41PM

  3. alison,
    be sensitive to understand others' point­ too.
    I for one is against drug abuse, but in the case­ of volandri, i have to agree with webbski and emmers,­ those types of medicines or drugs will not add anything­ into your performance, coz am also a recreational­ tennis players sometimes i do take medicines for­ allergies and I can feel the effects on my body but to­ make me more play better than the other player is I­ think an exaggeration.

    Martina Hingis might be a­ victim. since she did fight for it, doesnt mean­ she's guilty.

    i agree with you to throw all drugs­ cheaters, they really dont have rooms in the whatever­ sports.

    but ATP and WTA shud be very careful in this­ matter. . . .
    coz a players' dream and career is­ at stake.
    Peace

    From rudy_pagao, on Sun 18 Jan 9:11AM

  4. I had no interest in watching the games at present....I­ found a hot place, you guys should try it ---...­ Wealthy beauty co m a great place for rich people to­ meet their soul mates....

    From flyerdu2007, on Sat 17 Jan 3:32PM

  5. TO ALL YOU PEOPLE THAT SAY I AM STUPID JUST LOOK AT­ YOURSELFS CONDONING DRUGS CHEATS. I KNOW A GREAT DEAL­ ABOUT TENNIS AND KNOW THAT DRUGS CHEATS SHOULD HAVE NO­ PART IN SPORTS.VOLANDRI MUST OF KNOWN HE HAD TAKEN TO­ MUCH OF THE MEDICATION HE KNOWS THE RULES THEY ARE­ QUITE CLEAR. IF HE WAS ILL HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN­ PLAYING THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THE MATTER HE WILL­ LEARN.
    ALISON.

    From AJ, on Sat 17 Jan 12:59PM

  6. Ultimately, I am shocked at this outcome. It simply­ preaches that athletes should put sports first before­ health. As one who suffered from asthma for 18years and­ always used salbutamol, I know you have to use­ cocktails during severe attacks. Volandri needs to sue­ these guys....bunch of jokers!!!

    From Emmers, Mr PP, Hola Hovito.....whichever!, on Sat 17 Jan 8:18AM

  7. Comment 2 demonstrates a total lack of understanding of­ drugs. Are all drugs bad? Umm no! They are abused,­ sure, but most are there to REDUCE SUFFERING and SAVE­ LIVES. Salbutamol doesn't enhance tennis ability,­ just as anabolic steroids wouldn't help a darts­ player. You have to put the drug and sport combination­ in context, and discern whether that drug helps that­ athlete at that sport.

    From webbski, on Sat 17 Jan 12:55AM

  8. Comment number 2 is probably the most stupid comment­ I've ever seen on eurosport... Federer played­ really badly that day, made thousands of unforced­ errors against a guy playing well, on his favourite­ surface, in front of his home crowd, in his home­ town... Really, use your brains before posting such­ stupid things. Guess what Alison, Roger Federer­ sometimes loses tennis matches because on that dayn his­ opponent is better than him. That's it. And if you­ don't get it, you don't understand sports at­ all.

    From teapsky, on Sat 17 Jan 12:34AM

  9. Saying he had 1000ng/mL is a deliberate attempt to make­ it sound like a lot. It is actually 0.1mg/mL. Sounds­ less, but is the same. Good point webbski.

    From webbski, on Fri 16 Jan 11:03PM

  10. Sulbutamol is a beta receptor agonist, essential in­ preventing bronchoconstriction in asthma. To deny­ someone this medication can be fatal. To fine them is­ inhuman. The sports world's gone crazy.

    From webbski, on Fri 16 Jan 10:38PM

  11. "However, it found that his exemption certificate­ only permitted him to use asthma medication in line­ with generally accepted asthma treatment guidelines,­ and that the amount of salbutamol he inhaled was not­ consistent with such use, and so could not be said to­ be proper therapeutic use.

    How does using a Ventolin­ inhaler make him a cheat. As the mother of an asthmatic­ child I know that every day is different. Some days you­ need your pump more than others. Surely he must be an­ asthamtic to be prescribed Ventolin as it is only­ available from the doctors?

    From caroline c, on Fri 16 Jan 9:20PM

  12. Well pointed out Alison...

    From Nicholas, on Fri 16 Jan 8:28PM

  13. GOOD THROW ALL DRUGS CHEATS OUT FOR GOOD NOT JUST FOR A­ FEW MONTHS. NO ROOM FOR CHEATS IN TENNIS OR ANY OTHER­ SPORT.
    COULD THE DRUGS BE WHY HE BEAT ROGER FEDERER­ LAST YEAR I THINK SO.
    ALISON.

    From AJ, on Fri 16 Jan 7:05PM
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