Two-month sentence for Fernando Verdasco. He forgot to register his pills

A very curious situation occurred for the very experienced Fernando Verdasco. He was facing up to a two-year sentence for doping. In fact, the Tennis Integrity Organisation (ITIA) came forward to say that Verdasco had tested positive earlier this year. But the Spanish veteran’s forgetfulness is to blame for the situation.

And what is the former world number seven actually guilty of? In February, at a tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Verdasco submitted to an anti-doping test.

This later revealed one of the circuit’s banned substances in the Spaniard’s system. It is methylphenidate, which is used as a drug for hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD).

The Spaniard has used this drug his entire career and had a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) exemption issued for it.

However, the 39-year-old Verdasco forgot to renew this exemption and was threatened with a ban of up to two years from competing in tournaments, which would surely have also meant the end of his very successful career.

But the Tennis Integrity Organisation eventually commuted the sentence to just two months. “The ITIA accepts that the player did not intend to cheat and that his misconduct was not intentional. The player has voluntarily accepted a temporary ban which will expire on Sunday 8 January 2023.”

Verdasco has long been a member of the Top 10 and is a winner of seven ATP tournaments. He is currently up to 125th in the world rankings, so at his age he is facing his final seasons among the pros.

But of course he immediately extended his exemption for taking his pills.

Source: ATP, ITIA