Shortly after a bid to claim a second Wimbledon title ended in heartbreaking fashion last July, straight-talking Sydneysider Max Purcell arrived to talk to Australian reporters in a sorry mood and hellbent on achieving an even sorer head as he nursed a couple of beers.
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Purcell, who held the soothing ales in both hands, and partner Jordan Thompson had just been beaten in a doubles final in which they held match points 6-7 (7) 7-6 (8) 7-6 (9) by Harri Heliovarra and Henry Patten in a match where they did not face a single break point.
It was a brutal loss and Purcell, renowned for calling a spade a spade, declared he was going to be “double-parked” for the rest of what he suspected would be a long night of contemplation. At that stage Purcell was unaware that it would not be the worst night of his career.
In September Purcell, who on Tuesday accepted an 18-month ban for breaching anti-doping regulations related to his use of intravenous drips in Bali in late 2023, received a request from the International Tennis Integrity Agency that sunk his heart. He was on notice.
The ITIA wanted his mobile phone. Just a fortnight after Purcell had partnered Thompson to a US Open crown that was widely considered a redemption story given the devastation that occurred at Wimbledon, the Davis Cup representative’s goose was cooked.
While it would be another four months until he accepted a provisional suspension, the ITIA already had in its possession a text exchange between Purcell and another player from a separate investigation related to the use of drips in Bali on December 16 and 20 in 2023.
Although the ITIA accepted there was no evidence Purcell was using the drips for a performance enhancing capacity, and the Australian declared on Tuesday that he prided himself on being a clean athlete, an initial attempt at obfuscation ultimately counted against him.
He is the second Australian to be suspended for the improper use of a drip, with Queenslander Thomas Fancutt accepting a provisional ban in March for using an intravenous drip to administer vitamins in December, 2024, to combat “severe fatigue”.
The 18-month suspension aside, Purcell will also forfeit the points and prizemoney (A$242,000) he earned last January. It could have been far more bar for a narrow loss to Casper Ruud in a second round thriller at the Australian Open that year.
The totality of mistakes, which will see him sidelined until June next year given time already served, has seen him banned at a time when he is at the peak of his powers. In 2024 alone Purcell, whose variety on court is pleasing on the eye, earned almost A$2.6 million.
Based on that, he has arguably foregone the opportunity to earn another A$3m plus in his time on the sidelines given his doubles prowess is exceptional and he was ranked in the top 100 in singles. When he returns, he will have to work his way back up the rankings.
But in a statement released on Tuesday, the right-hander declared he was “glad this is finally over” given the toll it had taken on his health.
“As announced by the ITIA, I’ve accepted a settlement for a period ineligibility for 18 months with a loss of earnings from December 16th 2023-February 3rd 2024 (as February 3rd was my first doping test since December and it returned a negative result, as all of my tests have),” he wrote.
“This case has been going on for months, seriously affecting my quality of life, from being unable to sleep and eat properly, and refusing to be myself, to developing nerves and anxious tics, which I still currently battle day to day. I couldn’t sit and enjoy anything without the thought of the case and the endless possibilities of what sanction I would receive.
“I was nothing but cooperative with the ITIA. I’m so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life.”
THE TEXT EXCHANGE WHICH SANK PURCELL
Clause 9.2 in the ITIA report revealed Purcell and the unnamed player exchanged messages after the infusions in December, 2023, which demonstrated he was aware of a probable mistake given they showed the former world No.8 doubles player requested the clinic dispose of receipts related to his infusion and considered ways in which he could justify the drip use including the prospect of feining illness.
There was evidence on his phone that Purcell, who had previously won the Wimbledon doubles title with Matt Ebden in 2022, also searched the internet for guidance on whether the infusion was regarded as a breach under WADA rules. Yet four days later he returned to the clinic for a second infusion, as revealed in the exchange between the two players and a photograph sent to the clinic.
The breaches happened only weeks after Purcell had been added to a testing pool as a higher-performed player and “asked to provide my whereabouts every single day”. At the end of a long season, the Sydneysider was not diligent enough.
In late November the Aussie was informed the analysis on his phone had been completed and he was asked to attend an interview in Belgrade exactly one year after the second transfusion that, given the prior messages, exacerbated the initial breach of compliance rules.
Purcell wrote to the ITIA in December and said he was “utterly shocked” when he was informed after requesting information from the clinic that the infusions were 500ml, five times the accepted limit, and that he had told them he had only asked for drips under 100ml.
The reigning US Open doubles champion later explained he “unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins above the allowable limit of 100ml” but admitted he had breached the rules related to drip use.
“This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe,” he posted to Instagram at the time.
“I volunteered this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this whole situation behind me. I look forward to being back on the court soon.”
His partner Thompson raged over the initial ban in late December, though it is doubtful he knew the entire circumstances at the time.
“It’s a stitch-up. I mean, the guy took too much saltwater in an IV bag in Bali. He was unwell, that’s why he went there. He went to the hospital,” Thompson said.
“I have no good words for it. It’s a joke. I mean, guys are testing positive (for) performance enhancers and he’s (Purcell) gone out and taken too much saltwater (and) they’ve suspended him. Take of that what you will. Anyone looking at it goes, ‘It’s so unfair’.”
But in Point 35 of the findings, the ITIA writes that “the facts and evidence in these proceedings demonstrate a significant degree of fault and negligence on the part of the player”, as demonstrated by the data and messages it found on Purcell’s phone during the investigation.
“(Purcell) is a very high level tennis player who has received anti-doping education over a number of years and is, by his own account, well aware of the high standard accepted by him when it comes to meeting his own anti-doping obligations,” the report reads.
“Irrespective of whether the player requested an infusion of 100ml or not, by his own admission he never sought to verify whether his request had been understood, including by taking the extremely simple step of looking at the IV bag containing the infusion.
“The player’s fault in this case is therefore substantial and does not meet the requirements for a reduction of his Period of Ineligibility on the basis of No Significant Fault of Negligence.”
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD
Similarly to world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who is towards the tail-end of a three month ban for what was deemed an inadvertent doping breach at Indian Wells in 2024, Purcell is not allowed to train, play or coach at any official sites during a ban that expires June 12, 2026.
The right-hander, who mixed serve-and-volley tactics with changes of pace and spin when playing, will be 28 when his suspension ends and said he is determined to return to the court and rebuild his reputation and ranking.
Purcell, who battled ankle and feet issues last season, did not play a singles match after retiring from a second round match against Tommy Paul at the US Open, and contested only the Paris Masters and ATP Tour Finals in doubles with Thompson after being alerted to the potential case against him by the ITIA.
“I have accepted the mistake I made and will make sure I am even more diligent with everything regarding the integrity of the sport,” he said.
“I pride myself on being a clean athlete and have never been anything but that. Those who know me know that I take my anti-doping duties very seriously. So seriously that since December 2023, when I was added into the testing pool and asked to provide my whereabouts every single day I even changed the background lock screen on my phone so I would never forget.
“I am excited for the challenge and hope you all get around me for my comeback when it’s time. I’d also like to thank everyone for their support. It’s meant everything to me. Tune in when chapter 2 is approaching. Much love.”
ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said in a statement: “This case does not involve a player testing positive for a prohibited substance but demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that. It also shows that the ITIA considers intelligence from a range of sources with the overriding aim to protect everyone covered by the tennis anti-doping rules, and ensure a level playing field for all.”
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