Rome: Italian player Sara Errani has been suspended for two months for an anti-doping violation, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) confirmed Monday.
The 29-year-old former French Open finalist failed the out-of-competition test in February after a urine sample was found to contain ‘letrozole’ – a substance used in the treatment of breast cancer which is also on the banned drug list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is described as an aromatase inhibitor that can act as a hormonal and metabolic stimulant.
An ITF statement said Errani was charged with an anti-doping violation April 18 and had promptly asked for a hearing before an independent tribunal.
Traces of the banned substance were found in the urine of the 30-year-old former World No.5 during a out of competition test carried out by the ITF, the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ and the ‘Corriere della Sera’ had reported earlier during the day. The tests were carried out in February at her home. Errani had also for sometime been the No. 1 in doubles in 2013.
The newspapers also informed that the Italian, who lost in the 2012 French Open final to another drug offender, Maria Sharapova, has dropped out of the Rogers Cup in Montreal which started Monday. The same year, she also reached the semifinal of the US Open.
She has also admitted to have been treated in 2012 by Spanish cycling doctor Luis Garcia Del Moral, who also worked with Lance Armstrong, shortly after the ITF issued a directive that no players should associate with him.
According to the reports Errani, now ranked 98th in the world, was due to play in Canada but has returned to Italy.
Agencies