This week, a Brazilian tennis player faced a positive doping test but was ultimately exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) following his explanation that he ingested contaminated meat during a tournament in Colombia.
Nicolas Zanellato, who had been provisionally suspended for six months, is now cleared to return to competitive play, according to an announcement made by the ITIA on Thursday. The agency determined that he “bore no fault or negligence for (the) anti-doping rule violation” after conducting interviews, reviewing extensive documentation, and considering insights from independent scientists approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
In a related incident, WADA concluded its appeal against the ITIA’s decision to clear top-ranked player Jannik Sinner, resulting in a three-month suspension following a settlement.
At only 23 years old, Zanellato achieved his highest singles ranking of No. 458 in April 2024 and has accumulated just over $45,000 in career earnings from his singles and doubles matches, as noted by the ATP.
The positive test for the anabolic steroid boldenone occurred during an ATP Challenger event in Ibague, Colombia, in June 2024. This substance has recently been associated with several doping cases among minor league baseball players.
Initially facing a ban in August, Zanellato’s appeal against that provisional penalty was denied shortly thereafter. The full ruling from the ITIA stated that he firmly denied intentionally using boldenone and claimed that his positive test resulted from consuming meat tainted with the substance, which is commonly used as a growth promoter in cattle in Colombia.
The ITIA further noted that Zanellato had provided substantial evidence, including receipts and information regarding his food sources from an independent restaurant outside the tournament atmosphere. The agency’s decision emphasized, “It is more likely than not that the boldenone found in his urine sample … was due to the presence of boldenone residues in the beef he consumed shortly before the sample collection.”
Zanellato’s account was deemed plausible after being verified by independent scientific experts, leading to his approval for immediate return to tennis.
A note in the ruling indicated that not every case of meat contamination, whether related to Colombian beef or otherwise, guarantees a no fault or negligence conclusion.
