'Disgusted with myself': Australian coach Marinko Matosevic cops four-year doping ban
Updated . First published
Australian tennis coach and former world No.39 Marinko Matosevic has been handed a four-year ban after breaching anti-doping rules.
The 40-year-old has not played since 2018. He worked as a coach with Australian players Chris O'Connell until 2024 and Jordan Thompson until last year.
An independent tribunal found Matosevic committed five anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020, including blood doping while an active player.
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He was also charged with facilitating another player to commit blood doping, providing guidance to other players on how to avoid positive tests.
A charge for possession and use of clenbuterol pre-dating 2020 was dismissed by the independent tribunal due to lack of evidence, though it was noted to be likely.
The Australian denied the charges throughout the process but ahead of the hearing admitted to blood doping in Morelos, Mexico towards the end of his career.
"I was disgusted with myself, I retired the following week at the age of 32-and-a-half," he told Australian tennis website First Serve in February.
Marinko Matosevic during his playing days. Getty
"Shortly after I realised how precious life is and how serious and reckless my decision was. I wasn't involved in tennis at all for almost two years and pro tennis for three.
"I am writing this confession letter firstly to warn other athletes against doing anything that may harm their health and put their lives at risk because there is a long life after an athlete's career."
In the same statement, Matosevic slammed the ITIA's methods, calling them "corrupt".
Matosevic alleged that many of the claims against him were based on his text messages and called for tennis doping systems to be "dismantled".
"The tribunal also dismissed Matosevic's public allegations relating to the integrity of the ITIA's investigation process as without merit, and [found] that the ITIA 'acted within the authority conferred by the (Tennis Anti-Doping Programme)'," the ITIA's statement said.
Matosevic is prohibited from playing and coaching tennis players and is banned from attending any tennis event during the suspension.
There is no suggestion O'Connell or Thompson have breached any rules.
Matosevic reached his career high singles ranking of 39 in 2013.
