Cilic Banned for 9 months

[GameSetAndMath]

Mr. Cilic has been found guilty and banned for 9 months. See

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/09/38/Cilic-Decision.aspx

for details. Basically, ITF seems to admit that it was inadvertent and not done with
the intention to enhance performance (and so it reduced the punishment).

The ban is retrospective. Also, he lost the BMW open points and prize money.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The banned substance present in Cilic's system is a stimulant. Does anyone know anything abou this particular stimulant?

Also, do you think the punishment is fair or do you think ITF is protecting
image of Tennis by calling it inadvertent as Cilic is a top 20 player? I invite
all conspiracy theorists to get busy.

 

[Moxie]

The banned substance present in Cilic's system is a stimulant. Does anyone know anything abou this particular stimulant?

Also, do you think the punishment is fair or do you think ITF is protecting
image of Tennis by calling it inadvertent as Cilic is a top 20 player? I invite
all conspiracy theorists to get busy.

I'm NOT a conspiracy theorist, but I read the link you posted, and looked up the substance. It is a stimulant, and featured in the death of a Russian ice hockey player who took it 3 hours before he died. I'm rather willing to believe that it's possible that regulation of over-the-counter supplements varies from country-to-country, and itinerant tennis players could inadvertently ingest something they shouldn't, though hopefully in mild amounts...because I find it rather frightening that you could take something without knowing it that has been that dangerous to athletes.

As to the punishment, Cilic will have missed 3 Majors by the time he's reinstated. That seems harsh enough, IMO. I know Johan Kriek, in his blog post for us, linked here,
advocates for basically zero-tolerance, but I do think there can be extenuating circumstance.

 

[DarthFed]

I'd be interested to know if they have proof on what Cilic claims (that it was a mistake due to a OTC drug). You can't just take their word for it since there is an obvious incentive to lie.

 

[Moxie]

I'd be interested to know if they have proof on what Cilic claims (that it was a mistake due to a OTC drug). You can't just take their word for it since there is an obvious incentive to lie.

This is exactly where transparency in ITF and WADA procedures would be helpful. I'd like to believe Cilic, but if they could actually say they had tested what he said he took, and yes, it contained trace amounts of this banned substance, then it would all be more believable, and not just everyone going it on faith and a handshake.

 

[DarthFed]

I'd be interested to know if they have proof on what Cilic claims (that it was a mistake due to a OTC drug). You can't just take their word for it since there is an obvious incentive to lie.

This is exactly where transparency in ITF and WADA procedures would be helpful. I'd like to believe Cilic, but if they could actually say they had tested what he said he took, and yes, it contained trace amounts of this banned substance, then it would all be more believable, and not just everyone going it on faith and a handshake.

I took transparency more to mean that anytime someone fails a test it is immediately publicized pending appeal. The ITF had to eventually do something on this case after Croatian media reported the ban. How they handled this case is questionable at best.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I'd be interested to know if they have proof on what Cilic claims (that it was a mistake due to a OTC drug). You can't just take their word for it since there is an obvious incentive to lie.

This is exactly where transparency in ITF and WADA procedures would be helpful. I'd like to believe Cilic, but if they could actually say they had tested what he said he took, and yes, it contained trace amounts of this banned substance, then it would all be more believable, and not just everyone going it on faith and a handshake.

I took transparency more to mean that anytime someone fails a test it is immediately publicized pending appeal. The ITF had to eventually do something on this case after Croatian media reported the ban. How they handled this case is questionable at best.

I too agree that ITF should immediately publicize any positive test results even with
a cavaeat that the person is not necessarily guilty and the investigation is pending. After
all that is what they do in the judicial system. Everybody knows that so and so is
charged with so and so crime and at the same time, they are presumed to be inncoent
until proven guilty in the court.

At the very least, people would not talk about "silent bans" and people would not
be worried every time a player withdraws from a match (wondering as to whether
the player tested positively and so is withdrawing).

 

[isabelle]

According to L'Equipe, Cilic will make an appeal to CAS to reduce his ban

 

[Kieran]

I don't think he stands a chance. Players have a huge responsibility to check what they take. He failed in this, and has to pay. It may (or may not!) be harsh, but it's proper...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Please see the article below.

Does anyone know who is (are) the tennis player(s) with lot of body changes?

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/they-said-what-doping-gossip/49194/

 

[Kieran]

Please see the article below.

Does anyone know who is (are) the tennis player(s) with lot of body changes?

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/they-said-what-doping-gossip/49194/

You might also want to read the original New York Post articles.[/align]

I don't like the gossipy tone of that woman! It's low-level stuff. I wish people had the guts to say what they mean. Look at David Walsh in the Sunday Times, hounding Lance Armstrong. What she just did there was jump on the US Open bandwagon to boost sales, and nothing more than that...

 

[Front242]

The statement says Cilic "withdrew from Wimbledon, citing a knee injury to avoid adverse publicity.'' We all knew this already but it kinda makes things a bit suss whenever players ranked anywhere near the top do this and no I'm not stirring the pot re Nadal. Can say it about tons of players. It's the ATP's fault for non transparency. If a player failed a test and is banned the public should be made aware immediately to avoid any suspicion.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/cilic-cited-injury-hide-failed-drug-test/49263/#.UkH-TX_p5qc

 

[Kieran]

You stirred the pot about Monfils, though, and he turned up at the US Open...

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

THE ATP/ITF HAve goofed up big time..all that nonsense about cilic pulling out of wimby 2nd rd with a knee injury was a lie that the apt/itf went along with..

his 'A' sample was positive, so what happens cilic sneaks off with fake injuries and the truth is leaked a month or two later..

so if the truth hadn't been revealed when were the atp/itf thinking of telling us all about the test fail, or maybe they were not going to tell the world so we continue to think cilic is injured..

...which adds more weight to the 'silent ban' train of thought.

if an 'A' sample comes up as failed we need to know. straightaway...what a sad gaggle of bozo's. :huh:

 

[Front242]

You stirred the pot about Monfils, though, and he turned up at the US Open...

In fairness I was only quoting what a guy who claimed to have heard it on a French radio station said. Anyway, it's early days yet. He may have been banned since January knowing the ATP! Cilic played for a good while after his retroactive ban. Their way of doing things is complete nonsense. The problem with having them doing their own testing is beyond a joke. WADA should be in charge.

 

[Iona16]

Full report from the ITF.

http://www.itftennis.com/antidoping/news/decisions/decision-in-the-case-of-marin-cilic.aspx

 

[Moxie]

Full report from the ITF.

http://www.itftennis.com/antidoping/news/decisions/decision-in-the-case-of-marin-cilic.aspx

Not sure why that took so long. Whenever they are not forthcoming, it leaves space for others to drive trucks though and accuse, basically everyone.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Is this substance "nikethamide" sponsored by Nike?:nono

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Full report from the ITF.

http://www.itftennis.com/antidoping/news/decisions/decision-in-the-case-of-marin-cilic.aspx

Not sure why that took so long. Whenever they are not forthcoming, it leaves space for others to drive trucks though and accuse, basically everyone.

There is definitely something more to the story. The original ATP article
said that "A fully-reasoned decision will follow in due course". However, there
is really nothing new in this full report by ITF and it took them one week
to release the full report after the ban became public. Were they trying to
figure out how to word the full report so that nobody will suspect foul play?

 

[britbox]

I don't believe the "mother went out and bought some over the counter supplements" argument. Dopers who are caught always deny doping and find an excuse.

The ban shouldn't have been reduced on the basis that it was "inadvertent use" - everyone caught will say it's inadvertent.