A decision has been issued under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the "Programme") that Ashley Kratzer has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1. That decision imposed a period of ineligibility of four years, commencing on 28 March 2020.
Ms. Kratzer, a 20-year-old player from the United States of America (“USA”), provided a urine sample on 27 January 2020 in association with her participation in the WTA Newport Beach event, played in Newport Beach, USA from 27 January to 2 February 2020. That sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain GHRP-6. GHRP-6 is a Non-Specified substance, which is prohibited under category S2 of the 2020 WADA Prohibited List (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics), and therefore is also prohibited under the Programme. Positive tests for Non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory Provisional Suspension.
On 18 March 2020, Ms. Kratzer was charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and was Provisionally Suspended with effect from 28 March 2020.
An Independent Tribunal determined that Ms. Kratzer had not discharged her burden of rebutting the presumption of intentional use. The Independent Tribunal therefore imposed a four-year period of ineligibility, which was back-dated to start from 28 March 2020, the date on which Ms. Kratzer was provisionally suspended.
This is Ms. Kratzer’s first Anti-Doping Rule Violation. The decision determines that: (1) Ms. Kratzer has committed a violation of the Programme; (2) she must serve a period of ineligibility of four years; and (3) that period of ineligibility is back-dated to start on 28 March 2020, and so ending at midnight on 27 March 2024. In accordance with Programme articles 9.1, all ranking points and prize money obtained by Ms. Kratzer at the Event and subsequent events are disqualified.
This decision may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in accordance with Article 12 of the Programme.