Ex-tennis star hit with four-year ban and forced to hand back prize money

A former tennis star has been handed a four-year ban from the sport over alleged doping defences - one of which was committed while he was a player.

Marinko Matosevic was Australia's number one during a professional career which lasted between 2003 and 2018.

He reached a career-high ATP ranking of 39 in 2013, though never reached beyond the second round in a Grand Slam.

Since retirement, the now 40-year-old has turned to coaching.

But the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have given him a four-year ban after five alleged anti-doping violations between 2018 and 2020.

Matosevic started the 2018 season and failed to qualify for that year's Australian Open before retiring in February.

The ITIA began investigating the Australian player in 2024 before formally charging him in May 2025.

They ruled Matosevic committed offences 'including use of a prohibited method through blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating another player to blood dope, providing advice to other players on how to avoid positive tests, and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol'.

They noted that the 40-year-old had admitted to blood doping 'in media comments shortly before the hearing was scheduled to take place'.

As part of the sanction, Matosevic must pay back the prize money he earned from two events at the beginning of 2018. One single charge for possession and use of clenbuterol pre-dating 2020 was dismissed 'due to lack of evidence'.

Matosevic submitted a letter to Australian outlet First Serve Live in February, in which he admitted that he had committed an anti-doping violation in February 2018.

Matosevic was a top 40 ATP tennis player (Image: Getty)

"Even though the ITIA has no real evidence of my wrongdoing, I have decided to admit what I did due to the corrupt process and ridiculous nature of the other charges," he wrote.

Explaining the reasons for the violation, Matosevic added: "Under desperate circumstances (I had some health issues in 2017), I stupidly and recklessly did a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico.

"I was so disgusted with myself, I retired the following week at the age of 32 and a half.

"Shortly after, I realised how precious life is and how serious and reckless my decision was. I wasn't involved in tennis at all for almost two years, and pro tennis for 3."

Matosevic's suspension from tennis will last until March 15, 2030, as long as he pays back outstanding prize money.

The ITIA denied Matosevic's 'corrupt' allegations in their sanctioning statement, writing: "The tribunal also dismissed Matosevic's public allegations relating to the integrity of the ITIA's investigation process as without merit, and that the ITIA 'acted within the authority conferred by the TADP'."