Dan Evans has suffered a one year ban as a result of testing positive for Cocaine back in April, when he was competing at the Barcelona Open.
The Brit was found to have taken cocaine back in April and has been met with appropriate consequences by the ITF board. Here are the consequences in a statement by the International Tennis Federation:
‘The decision determines that (1) Mr. Evans has committed a violation of the Programme; (2) Mr. Evans must serve a period of ineligibility of one year; and (3) that period of ineligibility is back-dated under Article 10.10.3(b) of the Programme to start on 24 April 2017 (the date of sample collection) and so ending at midnight on 23 April 2018. In accordance with Programme articles 9.1 and 10.8, the points and prize money obtained by Mr. Evans at the Barcelona event and in subsequent competitions are disqualified.’
The decision means that Evans will suffer a one year ban dating back from April, as a result the current world number 108 will be able to return to competition on the 24th of April. This is not the only time Evans has landed himself into trouble as he has had his funding cut by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), for previous behaviour issues.
Analysis
The Brit is lucky not to receive a longer suspension as previous cases have proven, such as Martina Hingis in 2007 when she received a two year suspension, for a failed drugs test at Wimbledon. Also recent cases with Maria Sharapova have proven that even an accidental case of doping can still land you into hot water. However Evans will now have to live with the guilt of his wrongdoing and can recover from his recent behaviour. Evans is a talented player and reached the top 50 this year, so everyone would love to see him back to the kind of form that saw him a threat at the major events. The question remains, can Evans recover from his recent behaviour issues? I guess we will find our answer in April.
