It is a known fact that the sporting world does not take kindly to athletes opting for a shortcut in achieving their goals. That, however, might not always be the case, but Andrej Martin has been roped up in serious trouble regardless.
Not many controversies surrounding doping issues are witnessed persisting in today’s time. Professionals from across the globe often stay vigilant from getting entangled in a controversy as such.
Slovakian tennis professional, Martin, has recently found himself hanging on the noose with a nasty doping ban. The 33-year-old is full of potential and ambition but has only managed to top out at a career-high ATP singles ranking of 93 in 2020.
Andrej Martin is potentially facing a dishonoring end of his career. The Slovakian has been served with a 14-month doping ban from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The events surrounding the same were witnessed hailing upon him during an ATP Challenger event in 2020.
During his participation in the Bratislava Open in June 2020 Martin tested positive for an anabolic agent, SARM S-22. In connection to the results, he was handed a 4-year ban from the sport. The sentence, however, has been recently reduced remarkably. After convincing an independent tribunal that his part in the mentioned offense wasn’t intentional, he has been awarded a lesser sentence of 14 months.
“The player asserted that he had played in a floorball tournament… and that the presence of the substance was caused by mistakenly drinking from a teammate’s water bottle, identical in appearance to his own. Martin’s floorball teammate admitted that he added Ostarine drops to his water bottle. The Independent Tribunal considered Martin’s statement to be plausible,” stated ITIA.
With the help of such recent developments, Martin will undoubtedly be able to return to the tour by 2024. He can make a comeback in the ATP circuit but it is highly unlikely for him to restore his place in the top 100 ranking bracket.
Maria Sharapova faced a similar doping ban as Andrej Martin
Andrej Martin is not the first tennis professional who has been a target of a doping ban. Former Russian tennis professional Maria Sharapova has faced similar charges in the past. This automatically resulted in many critics detesting her involvement in such an incident.
07Mar/2016: Tennis player Maria Sharapova announces that she has been suspended for 15 months after a failed drug test. pic.twitter.com/mBDUt6NNti
— Hermine (@PetloverHermine) March 7, 2021
Sharapova was on the top of the WTA Tour pyramid when things started toppling around her. At the Australian Open 2016, the former world No.1 tested positive for a banned substance, meldonium. After pleading her case to an arbitration court, her sentence was reduced from 2 years to 15 months. Her return afterward did not prove fruitful as she lost her sharpness and ultimately retired in 2020.
Post-retirement, Sharapova has built an impressive business portfolio to her name. Her ventures range from manufacturing candy delicacies to funding start-up fitness equipment companies. The Russian was also blessed with an adorable baby boy in 2022 and is currently embracing her new-found love for motherhood.