The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Friday that they have handed Russian tennis player Daniil Savelev a two year suspension after he tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.
The ITIA revealed that Daniil Savelev’s positive test occurred in July 2024. The authorities provisionally suspended him in August 2024, and they will enforce the full suspension until August 2026. Daniil Savelev, who reached a career-high doubles ranking of 1,486 in August 2022, will miss a significant portion of his career due to the ban.
In its statement, the ITIA acknowledged that Daniil Savelev did not intentionally ingest the substance. The player explained that he had mistakenly consumed meldonium tablets, confusing them with family medication that appeared similar to common supplements. Despite this, the ITIA noted that Daniil Savelev did not take any proactive steps to address the violation, and as a result, he has agreed to accept the suspension.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the strict measures in place to maintain the integrity of the sport, with the ITIA continuing to monitor and enforce anti-doping regulations. Savelev’s suspension is a significant setback in his career, but the decision reflects how seriously professional tennis treats doping violations.
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