Ukranian world number 29 Dayana Yastremska has failed in her bid to have a positive drug ban overturned in time to play the Australian Open next month.
Yastremska, 20, is currently in hard quarantine in a hotel in Melbourne after flying to Australia with hopes of playing the first Grand Slam of the year.
Yastremska returned a positive result for a mesterolone metabolite, which can be used to increase testosterone, at an out of competition drug test in November.
She was handed a provisional suspension earlier this month but still flew to Australia as she awaited the results of her appeal.
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The International Tennis Federation rejected her bid to have the ban overturned on Saturday night.
Yastremska can still appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
"I firmly state that I have never used any performance-enhancing drugs or any prohibited substances," she wrote in a statement on January 8.
"I am astonished and under shock, particularly given that two weeks prior to this test - on 9 November 2020 - I tested negative at the WTA event in Linz. After this last tournament of the year, I stopped practising to rest prior to the start of the new season.
"Only a very low concentration of mesterolone metabolite was detected in my urine. Given that low concentration and given my negative test two weeks earlier, I have received scientific advice that the result is consistent with some form of contamination event.
"Besides, I have been informed that this substance is meant for use as medication by men and that women are advised not to use it due to the adverse effects it causes."
Yastremska's airfare on a charter flight and her hotel quarantine bill were both covered by Tennis Australia.
Many pundits say Yastremska should be forced to pay it all back.
If I’m a Victorian politician, I make dang sure that Yastremska winds up paying for all of her expenses. https://t.co/yNrzcOvlRv
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 23, 2021
Yastremka should never have been allowed to travel. She could have had an expedited hearing on her provisional suspension. Completed before she boarded the plane. The ITF /Tennis Anti Doping Program is who should compensate Tennis Australia. They allowed her to travel.
— Richard Ings : Stay COVID Safe (@ringsau) January 23, 2021
Yastremska:
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) January 23, 2021
- fails drug test
- still flies to Melbourne, with Tennis Australia paying for her flight and hotel
- ends up on a flight exposed to COVID
- forced into 2-week 'hard' quarantine
- barred from playing any tennis tournaments
That's GENIUS planning and decision making.
For numerous reasons, an early candidate for photo of the year. pic.twitter.com/hstrWq0SlK
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) January 16, 2021