world 51 mikael ymer has been banned by the International Tennis Federation for a period of 18 months after missing three out-of-competition events over a 12-month period.
The 24-year-old Swede posted a message on social media recounting the facts, which included being acquitted by an independent court, after which the ITF petitioned the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reach a different decision.
“In January 2022, the ITF charged me with a possible anti-doping rule violation for having failed 3 out-of-competition testing attempts in a 12-month period. I fought that charge at a hearing and was acquitted by an independent tribunal of 3 arbitrators in June 2022.” Ymer said in his Twitter post.
“The ITF appealed that decision despite the fact that the 3 independent referees who acquitted me were appointed under their own rules, and asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reach a different decision on the same facts under which I had already been acquitted. . I learned yesterday that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has suspended me from professional tennis for 18 months, despite the fact that I have never used or been accused of using prohibited substances. Having been acquitted once, and wholeheartedly standing by the fact that I do not feel the third offense was committed, I find your decision to try me again and subsequently plead guilty unfair. On top of that, I find it hard to comprehend that they found an 18 month suspension as just punishment. I understand that these rules were established to protect the integrity of our sport and that they are there for a reason. However, I do not believe I have violated those rules, and my conscience is clear with God as my witness.”
Ymer is the second ATP standout player to be sanctioned by the ITF this year, after American jenson brooksby who was charged with violating the whereabouts rule three times in a 12-month period.
Ymer, whose older brother ElijahThe 27-year-old also competes on the professional tour, having reached No. 50 in the world rankings earlier this year. He has reached an ATP singles final and has just reached the third round in Wimbledon earlier this month.
