American Tennis Player Wins Drug Ban Battle as She Is All Set To Test Her Skill at the Age of 36

Published 02/07/2023, 8:00 AM EST

Disaster! This one word is enough to describe the tragedy that the former World No.19, Varvara Lepchenko, had to go through after unknowingly consuming a banned substance. However, now bad days are coming to an end for the Americans. Recently, Lepchenko earned the verdict in her favor, which reduced her drug ban substantially. And looks forward to making a strong comeback.

Lepchenko was sentenced to a 4-year drug ban after she failed a routine drug-test, two years ago. And since then it has been a struggle for the former World No. 19 as she grappled with the consequences of the tragedy. It unsurprisingly led to a huge loss for the Uzbekistan-born American tennis star.

Varvara Lepchenko yearning to make a comeback

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Recently, as detailed by the Express, Lepchenko was successful in getting her 4-year drug ban, reduced to 21 months, after testing positive for a prohibited substance. Consequently, tennis fans would be able to see the former World N0.19 back in action in May this year.

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Back in 2021, Lepchenko tested positive for adrafinil and/or modafinil metabolite, during the Hungarian Grand Prix event, in Budapest. Subsequently, the American tennis player was banned from the court on 19th August 2021. However, Uzbekistan-born American tennis star was granted a ‘consent award’, by CAS after ITF independently procured and tested a piece of evidence supporting her cause; an unopened bottle of pill that did not mention the banned substance.

Nevertheless, tennis fans would be eager to see if the former World No.19 could present a new threat to the youngsters, given the massive amount of experience she has gained from her tennis journey.

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A silver lining to Lepchenko being granted the ‘Consent Award’

In addition to the reduced sentence, this would be treated as her first sanction, despite being involved in two anti-doping rule violations; due to the unintentional nature of her first violation. Moreover, all the stakeholders also agreed to backdate her ban, consequently, allowing the Uzbekistan born American tennis star to return to court by mid-May. Although her prize money and titles won before the ban by Lepchenko would stay disqualified.

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What are your thoughts about the ‘Consent Award’ to Varvara Lepchenko? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by:

Deepakshi Chaudhary is a Tennis writer at EssentiallySports. She is currently pursuing her Masters, and has worked as an Editor at EssentiallySports before transitioning into a writer. Watching Serena Williams dominate the WTA Tour in her heyday is what inspired Deepakshi to follow tennis.

Edited by:

Arijit Saha

American Tennis Player Wins Drug Ban Battle as She Is All Set To Test Her Skill at the Age of 36

Varvara Lepchenko yearning to make a comeback

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A silver lining to Lepchenko being granted the ‘Consent Award’