Details of former Australian No.1 Marinko Matosevic’s drug cheating comes to light through the International Tennis Integrity Agency
“I did it – I cheated,” a banned former Australian tennis player and coach said while discussing the pros and cons of taking clenbuterol, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as an “anabolic agent” and strictly prohibited in sport.
Marinko Matosevic also described the feeling of training at “full strength” and feeling like she was “not trying very well” when she received a blood transfusion in Mexico while competing in 2018.
Matosevic was handed a four-year ban following an investigation by the sport’s anti-doping watchdog that he used a banned method. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced its verdict on Matosevic last week and has since released detailed findings on the one-time Australia No.1 tennis player.
The ITIA previously found that the world number 39 facilitated the administration of blood drugs to another player and advised other players on how to avoid positive tests.
It was also revealed that Matosevic possessed and used clenbuterol.
During his four-year ban he cannot coach or work with any player in any context, cannot compete and is banned from participating in any tennis events or ITIA member’s events, such as ATP, WTA or Tennis Australia events, including the Australian Open.
Matosevic disclosed himself in February on the grounds that he was under investigation by the ITIA. He said he received a “stupid and reckless” blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico, in early 2018. A week later, the then 32-year-old played in the qualifying rounds at Indian Wells, the final tournament of his career.
ITIA findings outline communications between Matosevic and other players whose identities were not disclosed.
“In early 2018, Mr. Matosevic traveled to Mexico to compete in an ATP Challenger Tour event in Morelos, Cuernavaca. During this time, he was in regular contact with Player B. Their text messages in February 2018 provided information about the pair’s activities while in Morelos,” according to the findings.
“These included going to the clinic, doping blood, paying a doctor contacted by a friend of Player B… and the performance-enhancing effects they experienced.
“In the following days, Mr. Matosevic described a visible improvement in his physical condition and said: ‘applied [at] full power’ and this training felt unusually easy. “These messages occurred at the same time that both players were in Morelos and Mr. Matosevic was competing in the event.”
The doping watchdog also published messages between himself and a player eight years ago in which the Australian referred to Player B as “Lance”. “We interpret this as a reference to Lance Armstrong,” ITIA said.
Matosevic has coached current Australian players Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson, a US Open doubles champion and accomplished singles player who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year. This byline does not contain any allegations of wrongdoing regarding O’Connell or Thompson.
The doping watchdog also released correspondence between Matosevic and an unknown player about the best timing to take a blood sample ahead of the 2020 Australian Open, as well as correspondence from two years ago in which Matosevic was interrogated by an unknown person about taking clenbuterol. In response, Matosevic explains how his heart rate increased and says, “I did that. I cheated on that.”
“On January 12, 2020, Player A exchanged messages with Mr Matosevic regarding the timing of the blood test he was required to submit after receiving notification from the ITF. [the International Tennis Federation]According to the findings, on January 2, 2020, regarding the upcoming Australian Open.
“Player A informed Mr Matosevic that he needed to provide a blood sample between 12 and 19 January 2020 (just before the start of the Australian Open) and stated that the test could be done on 14 January 2020, “perhaps before that”.
“In the same conversation, Player A confirmed that he had last used ‘clen’ on December 14, 2019. Mr. Matosevic reassured him, saying ‘the clen was less than 10 days away.'[s]’Rest in peace’. After this assurance, Player A began arranging the blood test for January 19, 2020, the last day of the testing period.
“In addition, Mr. Matosevic contacted the following individuals: [redacted] About Clenbuterol. In April 2024, [redacted] He asked her about Ozempic and if it was something that would help burn fat during a workout. In response, Mr Matosevic said: [redacted] Saying ‘The best thing is Clenbuterol’, he explained that it is a drug used by athletes and is banned. He said Clenbuterol was ‘very clean’ and could be obtained ‘over the counter in Indonesia’.
“He explained that it could be administered orally by ‘squirting it on your butt’ and suggested that someone who contacted the gym could take it. He later said, ‘I did it. I cheated on him,’ and described its effects as causing an elevated heart rate and increased sweating.”
Matosevic admitted in an interview with the tennis website that he had a blood transfusion to Mexico First Service.
“Under desperate circumstances (I had some health problems in 2017), I stupidly and recklessly had a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico,” said Matosevic, who reached the second round at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and Roland Garros in his career.
“Disgusted with myself, I retired the following week at the age of 32.5. I soon realized how precious life was and how serious and reckless my decision was.”
But he also touched on ITIA’s investigation process and called for the current systems to be “shredded”.
“They take your phone under threatening circumstances and file a lawsuit based on hypothetical photos and text messages that are literally more than five years old,” he said.
“As we have seen in the last few years, the entire process is corrupt and lacks credibility. These are man-made rules changed on a whim and to suit dubious goals; they are not moral or right,” Matosevic said.
However, Matosevic’s complaints were rejected in the findings.
“Given the limitations and difficulties in detecting and prosecuting doping offences, requesting and obtaining a player’s phone is a conventional investigative tool. While undoubtedly inconvenient, it is a necessity that professional athletes understand as part of the price of an effective anti-doping system.”
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