Devastated Yastremska out of Aussie Open following CAS ruling
Dayana Yastremska has been left devastated after her appeal against a doping ban was dismissed, meaning the world No 29 will not be allowed to play at the Australian Open despite travelling to Melbourne.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by the Ukrainian who was provisionally suspended for doping, leaving her ineligible to play in the tournament that begins next week.
Yastremska was suspended last month after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found a banned substance in an out-of-competition urine sample she submitted.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) had denied Yastremska’s application to have the suspension lifted, prompting the world No 29 to approach the CAS to hear an urgent appeal so she could play in the year’s first Grand Slam.
‘The provisional suspension imposed on Dayana Yastremska in the challenged decision remains in force until a final decision is rendered by the ITF,’ CAS said in a statement.
The ITF said in a statement that Yastremska ‘remains ineligible to compete’ pending a final resolution of her case.
Yastremska had denied using performance-enhancing drugs and said the positive test was the result of a ‘contamination event’.
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She was confined to her room for two weeks after travelling to Melbourne on a contaminated flight from Abu Dhabi to appeal the suspension.
The Ukrainian had said she was ‘astonished’ after receiving the provisional ban for a banned substance last month.