LONDON, March 27, 2024 (ITIA Press Release)

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Arslanbek Aitkulov, a 20-year-old tennis player from Kazakhstan, has been provisionally suspended under Article 7.12.1 of the 2024 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).

The ITIA sent the player a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation 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 TUE).

Aitkulov, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1250 in November 2023, provided a sample while competing at an ITF M15 event in Doha, Qatar, in January 2024. The sample was split into A and B samples and the subsequent analysis found that the A sample contained a metabolite of LGD-4033 (a SARM) and 5-Methylhexan-2-amine, both of which are prohibited under the TADP, in the categories of Anabolic Agents (section S1.2) and Stimulants (section S6.B), respectively, of the 2024 Prohibited List.

LGD-4033 is a non-Specified Substance and 5-Methylhexan-2-amine is a Specified Substance. Adverse Analytical Findings for non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension – in Aitkulov’s case, this is effective from 23 March 2024.

While provisionally suspended, 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.