Victor Troicki has vowed to appeal against his 18-month ban from tennis for breaking doping rules.
Troicki,
the world No 53, was banned for failing to provide a blood sample when
requested during in-competition testing at the Monte Carlo Masters on
April 15.
The Serbian has just been beaten 6-1 6-2 to Jarkko Nieminen and
although he provided a urine sample, he did not provide a blood sample.
Troicki claimed he had asked permission to be excused the blood test
because he was feeling unwell, but the International Tennis Federation
has rejected that explanation.
Troicki confirmed he will appeal: "Yes for sure. I put my trust in
the Court of Arbitration of Sports in Lausanne, I really hope they will
look for the truth and find it, which is only one. I am destroyed and
exhausted."
In a statement on his website, Troicki confirmed he had spoken to world No 1 and compatriot Novak Djokovic about the issue.
"He said that he is sure it will end good because I am innocent, and that ATP should really back me up with this," Troicki said.
Explanation
"I was feeling awfully bad on April 15th before, during and after the first round match against Jarkko Nieminen.
"I gave the urine samples and told the doctor I was feeling really
bad and I believed that drawing blood would make me feel even worse. I
always feel awful when I need to draw blood and that day I was scared I
would end up in hospital.
"The doctor in charge of the testing told me that I looked very pale
and ill, and that I could skip the test if I wrote an explanation letter
to ITF about it. She dictated the letter to me and let me go without
giving blood. She was very helpful and understanding.
"She showed me a letter of the ITF saying she is in charge of the
decisions and I trusted her completely. I wish I had recorded the
discussion, there would have never been a case if I did."
An ITF statement said: "Mr Troicki provided a urine sample, but did not provide a blood sample.
"He asserted to an independent tribunal that he was assured by the
doping control officer (DCO) that it would be acceptable not to provide a
sample on account of him feeling unwell that day. However, the tribunal
concluded that the DCO told Mr Troicki that she could not advise him as
to whether his reason for not providing a blood sample was valid, and
that no such assurances were given by her.
"Accordingly, the tribunal determined that Mr Troicki's actions
constituted a failure and a refusal to provide a blood sample, and that
his explanation for not doing so did not constitute compelling
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