In November 2021 the International Tennis Federation (ITF) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Ukrainian tennis player Timur Mukhtarulin after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Amfetamine (126 ng/mL). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered.
In this case there were delays in the proceedings attributed to the Athlete as he failed repeatedly to apply for a TUE within the set deadline, as requested by the ITF. He also failed to respond timely to the ITU communications, nor provided any substantial evidence in his defence.
In his submissions the Athlete denied the intentional use of the substance and stated that he had decided to retire from tennis. He asserted that he was unaware that his medication caused the positive test result and claimed that his doctor had not submitted the documentation for his TUE application.
The ITF finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's samples and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation. Further the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional nor how the substance had entered his system.
Without a valid request for a TUE, nor a request for a hearing the ITF deemed that the Athlete has waived his right for a hearing, admitted the anti-doping rule violation and accepted the consequences thereupon.
Therefore the ITF decides on 1 February 2022 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 22 November 2022.
