Aussie tennis player slapped with hefty ban after admitting to doping breach
Fellow Aussie Max Purcell, who reached a career high ATP Tour singles ranking of 40 back in 2023, accepted an 18-month suspension after he breached the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) doping rules.
On Thursday, the ITIA confirmed that Fancutt had accepted a 10-month suspension.
He had admitted to a breach of Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) relating to the use of a 'prohibited method'.
Purcell had admitted to contravening the same provision back in December before being handed his suspension in April. He received two infusions that were over 500ml back in 2023. His cooperation had resulted in a reduction in his sanction.
However, he missed the Australian Open in January after entering a voluntary provisional suspension.
Fancutt, meanwhile, had contravened the regulation after he received an intravenous infusion that was deemed to be over the limit permitted by the TADP in December 2025.
Under the governing body's rules, players are only allowed to receive a 100ml infusion across a 12-hour period.
Fancutt's suspension will expire before the 2026 Australian Open.
Following an investigation, the ITIA explained that Fancutt had admitted to the breach, and had informed the governing body that it was not intentional.
'The ITIA sent the player a notice of a potential Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) on 7 March 2025. On 19 March 2025, the player requested to enter into a voluntary provisional suspension, which came into effect immediately,' the ITIA's statement read.
'Following a full investigation by the ITIA, which included evidence gathering and interviews with the player, Fancutt admitted to the breach, and the ITIA accepted that the breach was not intentional.
'In determining sanction, the ITIA considered relevant precedents across all WADC-compliant sports, in addition to the player's early admission and full co-operation.'
His time served under the voluntary provisional suspension will be credited back to his ban.
During his suspension, the ITIA states that he is banned from playing in, coaching or attending any tennis event authorised by the ATP Tour, WTA Tour or Tennis Australia.
In March, the 30-year-old Aussie, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 107, spoke of his 'devastation' following the news.
'At the end of my 2024 season, I unknowingly violated an anti-doping rule by receiving a 500ml IV infusion to combat severe fatigue,' he wrote in an Instagram story earlier this year.
'The contents of the infusion were solely vitamin B, vitamin C and magnesium.
'The IV infusion amount, however, exceeded 100mls which regardless of its contents, is prohibited under anti-doping regulations, something I was completely unaware of at the time.'
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