WTA: CAS suspends Sara Errani until February 2019 – Career continuation uncertain

The International Sports Court CAS has extended the doping ban against the former French Open finalist Sara Errani from two to ten months.

In August 2017, the 31-year-old Italian was initially suspended for only two months by the independent court of the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The Italian anti-doping prosecutor’s office as well as Errani himself brought an action against this verdict before the CAS.

In addition to the ban, Errani was also deprived of all results in the period from February 16 to June 7, 2017. The CAS calculated the already served suspension for the new penalty; the 2012 Paris finalist is now eligible to play again after eight months in February 2019. The former number five in the world is now ranked 72.

Traces of letrozole, a hormonal and metabolic agent, were found in a urine sample of Errani taken on February 16, 2017. She admitted the violation in a hearing. She claimed that her mother had had to take the drug because she had a tumour ten years ago. When preparing pasta for the family, the mother accidentally contaminated the food with letrozole. CAS classified the procedure as an easier offence.

Errani himself was deeply disappointed by the verdict. “I am disgusted by this matter,” she wrote in a longer letter she published on Twitter. “I’ve never taken a performance-enhancing substance before. I love tennis way too much to do that.” She has always tried to be a good role model – on and off the pitch. “I’ve dedicated my life to this sport and I don’t think I deserve all this.”

Errani obviously doesn’t rule out a career end either. “I don’t know if I’ll feel the strength and desire to play tennis again after all this.”