A decision has been issued under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (the “Programme”) that Arklon Huertas Del Pino has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1. That decision imposed a period of ineligibility of two years, commencing on 24 October 2019.

Mr. Huertas Del Pino, a 25-year-old player from Peru, provided a urine sample on 24 October 2019 in association with his participation in the ATP Lima Challenger event held in Lima, Peru from 21 to 27 October 2019 (the “Event”). That sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain cannabis. Cannabis is a Specified substance that is prohibited under category S8 of the 2019 WADA Prohibited List (Cannabinoids), and therefore is also prohibited under the Programme.

Mr. Huertas Del Pino 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) on 27 December 2019 and accepted a voluntary provisional suspension with effect from 8 April 2020. An Independent Tribunal determined that his violation was not intentional, within the meaning of Programme Article 10.2, but found that he could not sustain his plea of No Significant Fault or Negligence. The Independent Tribunal back-dated the period of ineligibility that was imposed on Mr. Huertas Del Pino under Programme Article 10.10.3(b) to start on the date of sample collection.

This is Mr. Huertas Del Pino’s first Anti-Doping Rule Violation. The decision determines that: (1) Mr. Huertas Del Pino has committed a violation of the Programme; (2) he must serve a period of ineligibility of two years; and (3) that period of ineligibility is back-dated to start on 24 October 2019, and so ending at midnight on 23 October 2021. In accordance with Programme articles 9.1 and 10.8, all ranking points and prize money obtained by Mr. Huertas Del Pino at the Event and subsequent events are disqualified.

• This media release was published by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on 18 May 2020. Click here for the original; and click here for the Full Decision.