By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 7, 2017
“I have explained in details all circumstances to the Independent Tribunal, who agreed that the food contamination was the cause of my positive test,” Sara Errani said.
Photo credit: FFT
Home cooking caused Sara Errani’s positive test for the prohibited medication Letrozole, the former world No. 1 doubles player said.
The 30-year-old Errani has been hit with a two-month suspension after failing a drug test and claims contaminated food is the cause.
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The International Tennis Federation announced Errani admitted to the anti-doping violation.
Trace amounts of Letrozole, classified as a hormone and metabolic modulator, were found in Errani’s urine following a February 16th out-of-competition drug test.
The medication, sold under the commercial name Femara, is used in breast-cancer treatment.
Letrozole is also on the World Anti Doping Agency’s list of banned substances because it can be used as a masking agent to cover steroid use.
The former world No. 5 says her mother has been using Femara daily since 2012 “and therefore (it) is present in the house where I am currently living.”
The five-time Grand Slam doubles champion said she is “100 percent certain” she did not take a Femara pill and insists she must have ingested it inadvertently through food contamination.
“I am 100 percent certain I haven’t taken a pill by mistake,” Errani wrote in a Twitter post. “The only viable option has been than an accidental food contamination occurred at some stage in the house.”
Errani’s suspension began on August 3rd and will end at midnight on October 2nd.
Her results between February 16th—the date her sample was collected—and June 7th, which was the date of her next drug test, are disqualified.
The world No. 98 will lose all ranking points and prize money earned during that time. As a result, Errani will fall from the Top 100.
The 2012 French Open finalist said her mother kept the medication on the kitchen counter as a reminder to take it daily and speculates Femara fell into the food during cooking and entered her system during a meal.
“I have explained in details all circumstances to the Independent Tribunal, who agreed that the food contamination was the cause of my positive test,” Errani wrote. “There is no evidence I have intentionally violated the anti-doping rules; there is no evidence that Letrozole would enhance the performance of a female tennis player.”
Maria Sharapova defeated Errani in the 2012 Roland Garros final. Sharapova served a 15-month doping suspension after testing positive for the banned substance Meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. "
"I am extremely disappointed, but at the same time at peace with my conscience and aware I haven't done anything wrong, neither have I committed any negligence against anti-doping program," Errani wrote.