Australia's Matosevic gets four-year doping suspension

 Former tennis player and coach ⁠Marinko Matosevic of Australia has been handed a four-year ban after ​breaching anti-doping rules, the ​International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Monday.
Matosevic, 40, reached a career-high singles ranking of 39 in 2013. He retired from the sport in 2018 and has since become a coach, working with Australian players Chris O'Connell and Jordan Thompson.
'An independent tribunal determined ⁠that Matosevic committed five anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and ⁠2020...,' the ITIA said in a statement.
'... including use of a prohibited method through blood doping (while an active player) and facilitating another player to blood dope, providing ‌advice to other players on how to ​avoid positive tests, ⁠and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol.'
In ​a statement published by Australian ‌tennis website 'The First Serve' in February, Matosevic admitted he underwent a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico ​towards the end of his playing career.
'I was disgusted with myself, I retired the following week at the age of 32-and-a-half,' he added.
'Shortly after I realised how precious life is and how serious and reckless my decision was. ‌I wasn't involved in tennis at all for almost two years ​and pro tennis for three.
'I am writing this confession letter firstly to ​warn ‌other ⁠athletes against doing anything that may harm their health and put their lives at risk because there is a long life after an ​athlete's career.'
In the same statement, Matosevic slammed the ITIA's ⁠methods, alleging ​that many of the claims against him were based on his text messages and saying that the anti-doping systems in tennis needed to be 'dismantled'.
'The tribunal also dismissed Matosevic's public allegations relating to the integrity ​of the ITIA's investigation process as without merit, and that ​the ITIA 'acted within the authority conferred by the (Tennis Anti-Doping Programme)',' the ITIA said on Monday.