Italian Marco Bortolotti (99th ATP doubles) was cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in a doping case reminiscent of the scandal involving Simona Halep.

>> Simona Halep and the tournament she could compete in after the WTA Miami exit: “She’s the perfect guest”

Marco Bortolotti avoided sanctions for forced use of doping

According to EFE, Bortolotti was accused of using clostebol, a banned substance, after an anti-doping test carried out in October 2023 during the challenger tournament in Lisbon (where he teamed up with Romanian Alex Dzecan). The Italian player did not have a medical prescription for the use of this substance.

This year, on February 5, Bortolotti (formerly ranked 355 in ATP singles) accepted the presence of clostebol in his body, but explained that it was unintentional and provided evidence that the result was due to involutive contamination.

Tests were carried out at a laboratory in Canada and it was determined that the level of clostebol found in the urine sample based on scientific criteria confirmed that the player’s account was credible.

Thus, Marco Bortolotti will not receive any sanctions in this case, but he lost the points and money won at the challenger tournament in Lisbon, writes Agerpres.

In the case of Simona Halep, the ITIA imposed a 4-year suspension for two separate violations of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP): the presence and use of the substance roxadustat in a urine sample collected after an anti-doping test. at US Open 2022 (1) and violations in his biological passport (2).

What you need to know about Simona Halep’s doping case

• The news that Simona Halep was temporarily suspended for doping appeared on Friday, October 21, 2022.

• Simona’s case was heard by Sport Resolutions, an independent tribunal in London that hears doping cases in white sport.

• Halep was suspended for 4 years for two separate violations of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP): the presence and use of the substance roxadustat in a urine sample collected after an anti-doping test conducted at the 2022 US Open (1) and a violation of her biological passport (2).

• Halep was heard at the CAS on February 7-9, 2024. A Swiss court said the former WTA leader had asked to overturn the decision of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and “reduce” its sanctions.

• On March 5, 2024, TAS announced that it had reduced Simona Halep’s sentence to 9 months.

• Simona Halep returned to the court at the WTA 1000 in Miami, but was defeated by Paula Badosa in the first round on March 19, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.