Decision in the case of Kateryna Kozlova

The International Tennis Federation announced today that Kateryna Kozlova has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample).

Ms Kozlova, a 21 year-old player from Ukraine, provided a urine sample on 16 February 2015 in association with her participation in the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships event (the "Dubai event") held in Dubai, UAE. That sample was sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain 1,3 dimethylbutylamine, which is a Prohibited Substance under section S6(b) (Stimulants) of the 2015 WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, and is therefore also prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the "Programme"). Ms Kozlova was therefore charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme.

Ms Kozlova asserted that the 1,3 dimethylbutylamine, for which she did not hold a valid TUE, had entered her system through her ingestion of a supplement provided to her by a doctor. The ITF accepted that Ms Kozlova had therefore established the means by which the 1,3 dimethylbutylamine entered her system, and that she met the preconditions of Article 10.5 of the 2015 Programme (reduction of the period of ineligibility based on no significant fault or negligence).

Ms Kozlova’s commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme was confirmed, and it was determined that she is suspended from participation for a period of six months, back-dated to commence from 16 February 2015, and so ending at midnight on 15 August 2015. It was also determined that her results at the Dubai event – and all subsequent events in which she competed prior to the date of this decision – should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of the ranking points and prize money that she won at those events.

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.

For more information, please contact:

ITF Communications

Tel: +44 (0)20 8392 4632

Email: communications@itftennis.com

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