ATP Tour - Volandri has doping appeal upheld

Eurosport - Tue, 31 Mar 11:09:00 2009

Italy's Filippo Volandri has had his appeal against a doping ban partially upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

TENNIS 2008 Rome Masters Filippo Volandri - 0

Volandri can return to action immediately, after a three-month ban imposed by the International Tennis Federation - which was due to run until April 14 - was cancelled.

The 27-year-old, ranked 161 in the world, was banned in January after testing positive for a banned stimulant during the 2008 Indian Wells Masters.

Volandri, who enjoyed a career high ranking of 25 in 2007, blamed his positive test for salbutamol on an inhaler he uses for asthma.

The Italian has a medical exemption certificate to use Ventolin, which contains salbutamol, to treat his condition but he was deemed to have exceeded his limit.

As well as the three month ban Volandri had to forfeit any prize money and ranking points from Indian Wells and all subsequent tournaments from August 18, when he was informed of the positive test.

Pippa Davis / Reuters

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  1. Dr Prof Webbski Presses all the right buttons as­ ever..............

    From Nicholas, on Wed 1 Apr 10:10AM

  2. All common sense has been abandoned in testing. The­ cylcist Kevin Van Impe was tested while making funeral­ arrangements for his son. What is funny is I know­ somewhere down the round the tester or his family will­ want common sense to be employed in a situation. I hope­ they don't get it!!

    From Rodney T, on Tue 31 Mar 4:16PM

  3. I am a scientist, and know that testing for salbutamol­ is not quantitative. However, for asthma, it is a life­ saver. This just shows how ridiculous the testing­ system is. Asthma attacks can kill, and salbutamol­ saves lives, but is a drug you can be banned for using.­ What they are saying is 'don't take too much of­ this life saving drug or you might be banned from­ playing'. Sickening, and preposterous.

    From webbski, on Tue 31 Mar 3:45PM
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