Tennis Player Receives 12-Month Ban for Doping Violation

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2026-07-14

Tennis Player Receives 12-Month Ban for Doping Violation

Former world No. 55, Facundo Bagnis, has been handed a one-year suspension due to a doping infraction. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) finalized its investigation into his positive test from the 2025 US Open qualifying rounds, concluding that a contaminated supplement was the source of the prohibited substance. This ruling allows Bagnis to return to competitive play in October 2026, with the period of his voluntary provisional suspension counting towards his ban.

Facundo Bagnis's anti-doping violation stemmed from a sample provided on August 18, 2025, during the US Open qualifying tournament in New York. The test revealed the presence of hydrochlorothiazide, a substance classified as a prohibited diuretic and masking agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Despite the positive test, the ITIA acknowledged that the Argentine player did not intentionally consume the banned substance. Bagnis cooperated fully with the investigation, voluntarily accepting a provisional suspension in October 2025 while the case was being reviewed. He presented comprehensive evidence, including medical documentation and expert reports, indicating that a bespoke vitamin supplement prepared by an Argentinian pharmacy was inadvertently contaminated. This evidence was corroborated by ITIA's own testing of the supplement at a WADA-accredited laboratory, confirming the presence of hydrochlorothiazide.

The ITIA's decision to issue a 12-month ban, rather than a longer suspension, reflects the mitigating circumstances presented by Bagnis. Given that hydrochlorothiazide is a specified substance, an automatic provisional suspension was not mandatory, but Bagnis chose to step away from competition voluntarily. The agency considered previous cases with similar factors in determining the appropriate sanction, ultimately finding that the violation was not intentional. Bagnis accepted the terms without requesting a hearing, bringing an end to an investigation that spanned nearly a year. His suspension period is backdated to include the time he has already spent off-court, allowing him to resume his career later in the 2026 season. Throughout his career, Bagnis, who achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 55 in November 2016, has secured 17 Challenger titles and reached two ATP finals, including a runner-up finish at Córdoba in 2024.

The resolution of Facundo Bagnis's doping case underscores the strict anti-doping regulations in professional tennis, even when unintentional contamination is involved. The ITIA's thorough investigation and consideration of all evidence provided a fair outcome, balancing the integrity of the sport with the player's circumstances. Bagnis's proactive cooperation and the proven source of contamination were crucial factors in mitigating the severity of his ban, paving the way for his return to the courts.

Tennis Player Receives 12-Month Ban for Doping Violation

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