Paris (AFP)
Colombian tennis player Robert Farah, world No.1 doubles, was laundered after a positive doping test for an anabolic, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) believing that it was due to the contamination of meat consumed by the player.
Farah had tested boldenone positive during an unexpected test on October 17 and had been temporarily suspended by the ITF. He had thus been unable to participate in the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.
He then attributed the positive test to the consumption of Colombian meats contaminated by this substance often used to stimulate the growth of beef.
"Mr. Farah's explanations for the presence of boldenone in his body were accepted and it was decided that he was not guilty of fault or neglect for this violation," the ITF said in a statement.
The court concluded that the ingestion of the substance was not "intentional" and therefore decided to lift Farah's provisional suspension, "with immediate effect".
This decision can be appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or the Colombian Olympic Committee (Coldeports) before the Sports Arbitral Tribunal (CAS).
Boldenone is sold freely in Colombia by veterinary prescription but is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In 2018, the Colombian Olympic Committee alerted national athletes to the presence of boldenone in the country's cattle.
Farah and fellow Colombian Juan Sebastian Cabal have won the last two Grand Slam tournaments of 2019 in doubles (Wimbledon and the US Open). Despite an interruption linked to Farah's suspension, they still occupy first place in the ATP world double ranking.
© 2020 AFP