World No. 29 Dayana Yastremska provisionally suspended after positive drugs test
Dayana Yastremska has denied she has used performance enhancing drugs after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.
Yastremska, the world No. 29 from Ukraine, is one of the highest ranked young players in women’s tennis but has been provisionally suspended after mesterolone metabolite was found in a urine sample on November 24, 2020.
The 20-year-old, who ended 2020 on a four match losing streak, said she is ‘astonished and under shock’ at the result and ‘resolutely determined’ to clear her name.
Yastremska, who has been ranked as high as 21 in the world, suggested that the line of defence she and her team will use will be to claim that there has been contamination of something she has ingested.
‘I firmly state that I have never used any performance enhancing drugs or any prohibited substances,’ she said.
I am astonished and under shock, particularly given that two weeks prior to this test – on 9 November 2020 – I tested negative at the WTA event in Linz.
ITF statement on Dayana Yastremska
Dayana Yastremska has been provisionally suspended under Article 8.3.1(c) of the 2020 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the “Programme”), pending determination of the charge against her at a full hearing pursuant to Article 8 of the Programme.
Ms. Yastremska, a 20-year-old player from Ukraine, provided an Out-of-Competition urine sample on 24 November 2020. That sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain mesterolone metabolite. Mesterolone is a Non-Specified substance, which is prohibited under category S1 of the 2020 WADA Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents), and therefore is also prohibited under the Programme. Positive tests for Non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory Provisional Suspension.
On 22 December 2020, Ms. Yastremska was charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and was Provisionally Suspended with effect from 7 January 2021. Ms. Yastremska had (and retains) the right to apply to the Chair of the Independent Tribunal convened to hear her case why the Provisional Suspension should not be imposed, but has chosen not to exercise that right to date.
‘Only a very low concentration of mesterolone metabolite was detected in my urine.
‘Given that low concentration and given my negative test two weeks earlier, I have received scientific advice that the result is consistent with some form of contamination event.
‘I am currently working with my team and you can be assured that I am resolutely determined to do everything to clear my name.’
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