Dan Evans
(June 23, 2017) Twenty-seven-year-old British tennis player Dan Evans said on Friday that he tested positive for cocaine in April during a news conference which he organized.
The International Tennis Federation established that Evans failed a doping test on April 24 at the Barcelona Open (Press Release is listed below the article). Evans will be provisionally suspended as of June 26.
The 50th-ranked Evans made a statement and did not take questions during his news conference.
“It’s really important you know this was taken out of competition and the context was completely unrelated to tennis.”
“I made a mistake and I must face up to it. I can only deeply apologize from the bottom of my heart.”
Tennis Anti-Doping Programme statement regarding Daniel Evans
PRESS RELEASE
23 June 2017
Following the statement made by Daniel Evans today, the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) can confirm the following:
- On 24 April 2017, Mr Evans, a 27-year-old player from Great Britain, provided an anti-doping sample to the TADP in association with his participation in the Barcelona Open, an ATP World Tour event, held in Barcelona, Spain.
- That sample was analysed by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada, and was found to contain cocaine and its metabolite. Cocaine is a Non-Specified substance prohibited under category S6 of the 2017 WADA Prohibited List (stimulants), and therefore is also prohibited under the TADP.
- In accordance with Article 2.1 of the TADP, Mr Evans was charged on 16 June with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
- Mr Evans has accepted the finding of cocaine in his sample collected on 24 April.
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As positive tests for Non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory Provisional Suspension, Mr Evans will be provisionally suspended with effect from 26 June, under Article 8.3.1(c) of the 2017 TADP, pending determination of the case.
The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognised drug-testing programme that applies to all players competing at Grand Slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the ITF, ATP, and WTA. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and, upon a finding that an Anti-Doping Rule Violation has been committed, sanctions are imposed in accordance with the requirements of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme and World Anti-Doping Code. More background information on the Programme, sanctions, tennis statistics and related information can be found at www.itftennis.com/antidoping.