Decision in the case of Nuria Llagostera Vives

London, Nov 11, 2013: The International Tennis Federation announced today that Nuria Llagostera Vives 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 Llagostera Vives, a 33-year-old player from Spain, provided a urine sample in association with her participation in the Bank of the West Classic, Stanford, USA. That sample was sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain d-methamphetamine, which is a Prohibited Substance under section S6 (Stimulants) of the 2013 WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, and is therefore also prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the “Programme”). Ms Llagostera Vives was therefore charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme.

An independent hearing was held, in which Ms Llagostera Vives, who did not hold a valid TUE for d-amphetamine, was not able to demonstrate how the d-amphetamine entered her system. She was, therefore, unable to satisfy the preconditions for mitigation under article 10.5.1 or 10.5.2 of the Programme. Ms Llagostera Vives’s commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme was, therefore, confirmed, and it was determined that she is suspended from participation for a period of two years, commencing from 8 September 2013, the date on which she was provisionally suspended, and so ending at midnight on 7 September 2015.

It was also determined that Ms Llagostera Vives’s results at the 2013 Bank of the West Classic should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of any ranking points and prize money that she won at that event. Ms Llagostera Vives’s results in events subsequent to the Bank of the West Classic remain undisturbed, including all prize money and ranking points won at those events. The full decision is available on the ITF Anti-Doping website.

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 —- ITF