Former top 60 player Cagla Buyukakcay has insisted she has ‘done nothing wrong’ after being provisionally suspended from the Tour following a failed drugs test.
Earlier this week the International Tennis Federation issued a statement confirming that the 32-year-old tested positive for Ractopamine during the WTA Winner’s Open in Romania back in August. An animal feed additive that is defined as ‘a non-Specified Substance, which is prohibited under category S1 of the 2021 WADA Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents), and therefore also prohibited under the Programme.’ Buyukakcay had appealed for her provisional ban to be lifted but was refused by an independant panel.
The Turkish player will have to wait for a formal hearing which will have a final say on her fate in the sport and if she will receive a formal ban from the sport. Under ITF guidelines, players who test positive for a banned substance are provisionally banned until a formal hearing is conducted.
Following the decision Buyukakcay has issued a lengthy statement in which she believes the positive test is linked to contaminated meat she consumed prior to the test. She denied having ever heard of Ractopamine before and says it is ‘impossible’ for her to obtain the drug from pharmacies or markers due to its restriction of sale.
“The only logical conclusion that I can reach to account for the presence of Ractopamine in my body is that I consumed contaminated meat,” Buyukakcay wrote. “I provided receipts to show that I consumed tenderloin steaks twice in the days leading up to my match, but the Independent Tribunal did not accept my explanation and the ITF moved forward with my provisional suspension, meaning my case will be reviewed. There has been no final decision made yet.”
According to an article published by The Independent last December, Ractopamine is banned in the UK, EU, Russia and China due to “possible detrimental impacts on heart and cardiovascular health, from residues of the drug in meat and offal”.
“I am very careful about what I eat or consume. I am a long-time professional player living with the knowledge of anti-doping rules and regulations,” the Turkish player stated.
“I have paid meticulous attention to comply with the rules throughout my career,” she added.
Buyukakcay has been a trailblazer for tennis in her home country. Back in 2016 she won the Istanbul Open to become the first ever Turkish player to win a WTA title. She is also the first woman to represent her country in tennis at the Olympic Games during the same year. Buyukakcay has been ranked as high as 60th in the world and has won 10 titles on the lower-level ITF circuit.
She is currently ranked 244th in the world.
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