The highest ranked British doubles player on the WTA Tour says she ‘looks forward to proving she is a clean athlete’ after being suspended following a failed drugs test.
Tara Moore, who is currently at a career-high of 83 in the world rankings, has been handed a provisional suspension under 2.1 and 2.2 of the 2022 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP). The 29-year-old was notified of the violation on May 27th which resulted in her withdrawal from the second round of the French Open. Moore was playing in the tournament alongside Emina Bektas.
The positive test was recorded during a WTA tournament in Bogota where she reached the final of the doubles tournament. Moore’s A sample was found to have contained Nandrolone metabolites and Boldenone and its metabolite. Two substances which are banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. She now has the right to ask for her B sample to be tested. Under the rules, if there is a positive result without any reasonable explanation the player is provisionally suspended pending a further investigation.
“The player is ineligible to compete in or attend any sanctioned tennis events organized by the governing bodies of the sport from the start of the provisional suspension on 27 May 2022,” a statement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reads.
Following the public confirmation on Wednesday, Moore has also issued a statement in which she denies any wrongdoing. She has more than a decade of experience of playing on the Tour and made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships.
“I never knowingly took a banned substance in my career. I am investigating how the positive result could have occurred and look forward to proving that I am a clean athlete,” said Moore.
“I am deeply saddened by the provisional suspension and hope to be back on the court as soon as possible.”
During her career Moore has won 26 titles on the lower level ITF circuit with 17 of those being in doubles.
