Robert Farah is eligible to play again after Boldenone controversy

The 32-year-old Robert Farah was the player to beat on the doubles courts in 2019, winning five ATP titles with the fellow Colombian Juan Sebastian Cabal and finishing as the year-end no. 1. After lifting crowns at Wimbledon and the US Open, Farah and Cabal were among the favorites at the Australian Open in January as well, entering the event as the top seeds before a massive turnaround that occurred a month ago. Robert Farah withdrew from the first Major of the season due to personal reasons and that turned into something much more serious just a couple of hours later.

The Colombian announced on social media that he was tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid and banned by the ITF on January 21! After eating meat in his home country, Robert Farah tested positive for Boldenone during the regular check on October 17, despite negative results in Shanghai just a couple of weeks before. In 2018, the Colombian Olympic Committee released a statement about Boldenone, warning it may affect athletes' test results. Acting correctly and following the rules for the entire life, Farah was confident about the positive outcome, skipping the first Major of the season and hoping to return as soon as possible.

On Monday, the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the "Programme") released an issue that Robert Farah has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the 2019 Programme, with no period of ineligibility imposed. Farah's report of how the Boldenone entered his system was accepted, indicating that he bears No Fault or Negligence for the violation within the meaning of Programme Article 10.4. Robert's provisional suspension, imposed on 21 January 2020, is taken away with immediate effect, with the Colombian eligible to resume competition immediately. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2SekozQ