SUMMARY
- The ITIA banned Casey Kania for two years after he tested positive for cannabis.
- British tennis star Liam Broady blasted the anti-doping agency for their ruling.
Casey Kania, the rising American player, is the latest player to be banned by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Kania tested positive for marijuana, but the extent of the ban has shocked the tennis world. Many have spoken up, including British star Liam Broady, who lashed out against the decision.
Casey participated in an ATP Challenger event in Cary, USA, last August. He competed on behalf of the University of North Carolina, but he crashed out in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, he tested positive for marijuana, causing the ITIA to hand him a rather harsh ban for two years.
Broady recently lambasted the body for their decision on social media. The Stockport-born player stated that marijuana could not have affected Kania’s performance on the court. He went on to add that he would like to see someone play better in that heat in Cary. “I’d pay a lot of money to see somebody playing better tennis in THAT heat in Cary after smoking a joint,” he wrote.
What a joke. Really going after the big fish here 😂. I’d pay a lot of money to see somebody playing better tennis in THAT heat in Cary after smoking a joint 😭 https://t.co/M5478PB3B0
— Liam Broady (@Liambroady) February 28, 2024
Casey reached a career-high ranking of 1,317 in the world in doubles. So far in his short career, Kania has earned only around $1000, and he is far from a household name at this point.
Liam Broady was not the only person to speak out against this ruling, though. Fans weighed in on the issue as well, as many just found this case ridiculous. Here are a few reactions to Casey’s ban.
Two years? For pot? Ridiculous.
— 13millionplus (@13millionplus) February 28, 2024
Marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug. If anything it would wreck your game!
— Jeri (@NashvilleChick) February 28, 2024
This sounds like a bad joke. 2 years ban for taking a substance that can’t enhance his physical performance? Odd.
— Eme 🏆 (@emesporty) February 28, 2024
The tennis community has rallied behind Casey Kania, whose career has been halted by this decision. Hopefully, he will appeal to reduce the sanctions.
Why did the ITIA ban Casey Kania?
Kania participated in an ATP Challenger tournament in Cary in August 2023. The urine sample he provided tested positive for cannabis (Carboxy-THC).
Under Section S8 of the WADA Prohibited List, cannabis is a cannabinoid and a banned substance. The ITIA stated that Kania did not have a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the substance.
American tennis player Casey Kania has been suspended from the sport for two years following a breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.
— International Tennis Integrity Agency (@itia_tennis) February 27, 2024
However, the ITIA did state that Casey did not intentionally breach the provisions of the TADP. “But the player was unable to demonstrate that they bore No Fault or Negligence for their violation. Therefore, a two-year period of ineligibility (rather than a four-year sanction for an intentional violation) was imposed, as set out in TADP article 10.2.2,” read the statement.
Casey Kania joins the ever-growing list of players banned by the ITIA. His ineligibility period began on February 2, 2024, and will end on February 1, 2026. He will also have to forfeit all the ranking points and prize money he collected at the tournament.