Australian tennis player hit with 10-month ban for anti-doping breach over vitamin infusion

A second Australian tennis player in four months has been hit with a lengthy suspension for breaching the sport’s anti-doping rules over intravenous infusion of vitamins.

Thomas Fancutt, 30, was provisionally suspended in March but the sport’s anti-doping watchdog, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), this week hit the doubles player with a 10-month ban – a suspension which ends in January before the Australian Open.

Fancutt has admitted to using a “prohibited method” as defined by the ITIA’s anti-doping program. Athletes are permitted to use IV drips, but only when fluid is below a certain threshold and within a specific time period.

Fancutt’s case follows that of Australia’s doubles champion Max Purcell who was hit with an 18-month ban in April for breaching the anti-doping rules after ITIA investigators found messages on his mobile phone in which he discussed ways he could justify receiving intravenous infusions.

Two-time grand slam doubles champion Purcell was also found by the ITIA to have used a “prohibited method” – by receiving infusions of more than 500 millilitres in December 2023.

In Fancutt’s case, the ITIA said the player had received an intravenous infusion over the accepted limit in December, 2024.

“The ITIA sent the player a notice of a potential anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) on 7 March 2025,” the agency said in a statement.

“On 19 March 2025, the player requested to enter into a voluntary provisional suspension, which came into effect immediately.

“Following a full investigation by the ITIA, which included evidence gathering and interviews with the player, Fancutt admitted to the breach, and the ITIA accepted that the breach was not intentional.

“In determining sanction, the ITIA considered relevant precedents across all [World Anti-Doping Agency] WADA-compliant sports, in addition to the player’s early admission and full cooperation.”

Time served during a provisional suspension is credited against a period of ineligibility for athletes.

The ITIA added: “As such, Fancutt’s suspension will end on 18 January 2026. The player will also forfeit results and prize money from the date of their first ADRV (3 December 2024) to their first subsequent negative doping control sample, which was provided on 16 January 2025.”

WADA’s list of prohibited substances specifies that IV infusions or injections are banned when they exceed a 100ml threshold, or unless they are done for legitimate medical purposes.

Sport Integrity Australia has previously warned professional athletes about the risks of IV treatments. “Sport Integrity Australia is aware of a number of wellness clinics offering IV infusions for wellbeing, lifestyle or hangover recovery purposes,” the agency said in a February 2022 blog post.

“Athletes are warned that any IV infusion over 100ml of ANY substance can result in a doping violation and a ban from sport.”

Fancutt reached a career-high world doubles ranking of 107 in late 2024.