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Viktor Troicki has 18 months to brood over his actions. AP Photo/Christophe Ena
first serb

Tennis world reeling as Serbian star banned for failing to provide blood sample

If you were thinking Viktor Troicki, you’re correct.

FORMER WORLD NUMBER 12 Viktor Troick has been banned for 18 months on Thursday for flouting doping rules, according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said.

The 27-year-old Troicki, who was part of the Davis Cup-winning team in 2010, was found guilty of failing to provide a blood sample during a drugs test at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

“Mr Troicki provided a urine sample, but did not provide a blood sample,” said an ITF statement.

“He asserted to an independent tribunal that he was assured by the doping control officer (DCO) that it would be acceptable not to provide a sample on account of him feeling unwell that day.

“However, the tribunal concluded that the DCO told Mr Troicki that she could not advise him as to whether his reason for not providing a blood sample was valid, and that no such assurances were given by her.”

His failure to provide a blood sample at Monte Carlo, where he was knocked out in the first round, constituted a dope test failure, said the ITF.

“The tribunal determined that he is suspended from participation for a period of 18 months, and so ending at midnight on 24 January 2015,” added the statement.

Troicki, who is currently at 53 in the world, reached a career high 12 in 2011 and has won €3.4m in prize money. His only tour title came in 2010 when he captured the Moscow indoors event [Kremlin Cup]. That same year, he won the decisive fifth and final rubber against France as Serbia claimed the Davis Cup for the first time.

Troicki was playing at the Umag clay-court event in Croatia on Thursday where he was beaten 6-0, 6-4 in the second round by Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo. His best results in 2013 have all come on clay with quarter-final runs in Bucharest, Munich and Dusseldorf.

© AFP, 2013

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