The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Arslanbek Aitkulov, a 21-year-old tennis player from Kazakhstan, has been suspended for a period of four years after breaches of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).
An independent tribunal found that Aitkulov did not meet their burden to demonstrate that the presence of two prohibited substances in their January 2024 anti-doping sample was unintentional.
The ITIA sent the player a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) on 14 March 2024 under Article 2.1 of the TADP (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and/or Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)).
Aitkulov, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1250 in November 2023, provided an in-competition sample while competing in an ITF World Tennis Tour event in Doha, Qatar, in January 2024.
The sample was split into A and B samples and the subsequent analysis found both samples contained the substances ligandrol and methylhexanamine, which are prohibited under the TADP, in the categories of Anabolic Agents (section S1.2) and Stimulants (section S6.B), respectively, of the 2024 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Ligandrol is a non-Specified Substance and 5-Methylhexanamine is a Specified Substance. Adverse Analytical Findings for non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension. Aitkulov has been provisionally suspended since 23 March 2024.
Following a period of time to allow the player to attempt to establish the source of the prohibited substances, a procedural timetable was agreed between the two parties in December 2024.
With the player unable to demonstrate source, a hearing was held remotely on 30 June 2025, from which the independent tribunal issued Aitkulov with a suspension of four years, as the simultaneous presence of both substances is considered a first offence under TADP rules in line with the World Anti-Doping Code.
Results, prize money and ranking points from the event in which the player tested positive are forfeited, in addition to all subsequent events played by Aitkulov between the date of their positive test and the imposition of their provisional suspension.
Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against the player’s period of ineligibility. Having been suspended since 23 March 2024, Aitkulov’s suspension will end on 22 March 2028.
During the period of ineligibility, Aitkulov is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.
The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of their professional tennis events.
To read the decision in full, click here.
Ends
Published 19 August 2025 12:00
