Doping suspensions have become very common in tennis of late. Simona Halep‘s name comes first in our minds when we think about it. Recently, Jenson Brooksby faced a suspension as the American missed three doping tests in a span of 12 months. Brooksby and Halep have company now as Swedish tennis player Mikael Ymer has joined the pack.

The Swedish number 1 has been gradually climbing up the rankings and was on the verge of breaking into the top 50 before the unfortunate news broke out. He explained his entire story via Twitter right from scratch in over 200 words.

Mikael Ymer falls prey to the cruel ITF doping rules

The World No.51’s doping allegation has been doing rounds of the court since January 2022. However, the news did not gain much attention outside the hearings. Ymer was cleared as early as June 2022, but the ITF appealed the decision again. Despite receiving clearance from 3 individual arbitrators, things did not go Ymer’s way.

Yesterday, the Swedish star received the verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sports. He has been suspended for 18 months from competing in professional tennis. He does not feel that he committed any offence, nor was he acquitted for consuming substance. The 24-year-old feels that he was unfairly convicted and the suspension time to be extremely harsh.

Ymer, popularly known for his trick shots, is likely to miss 18 months of his career during his prime mid-20s. It seems like a massive blow, especially when he was regularly improving. The Swedish star is under the impression that he has not broken any rules and charged wrongfully.

Ymer believes that he is innocent

After explaining the entire situation, Ymer concluded his message with a personal statement. He said, “I understand that these rules have been put in place to protect the integrity of our sport, and that they are there for a reason. However, I do not believe I broke those rules, and my conscience is clear with God as my witness.”

The rise in the number of doping bans is not a good look for the sport. Jenson Brooksby was banned similarly for missing three tests. Simona Halep’s case has also seen no progress after multiple trials. With Ymer joining the pack, things are only getting worse for the fans.

READ MORE: A Day After the Controversial Doping Ban of a 22YO American Star, Holger Rune Slams Authorities for Their ‘Super Stressed’ Testing Process for the Players

Do you think ITF must make changes to its doping suspension rules? Let us know in the comments.

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