SWISS TENNIS PLAYER SUSPENDED
A Swiss tennis player has been suspended for two years by the Swiss Sports Tribunal (SST) for possession and attempted use of the banned substance BPC-157 (Body Protective Compound) and ordered to pay part of the procedural costs.
During a postal inspection in August 2024, a package addressed to a Swiss tennis player containing 180 capsules of BPC-157 was seized by the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security and forwarded to Swiss Sport Integrity (SSI).
As stipulated by the Swiss Act on the Promotion of Sport, SSI ordered the destruction of the product, subject to a fee, as part of an administrative procedure.
The athlete was subsequently informed, as part of the disciplinary proceedings, that the possession and use of the banned substance BPC-157 constituted a potential violation of the Swiss Olympic Anti-Doping Statute.
Following the investigation, SSI sent a formal notice of charges to the athlete. The athlete denied intentionally violating anti-doping rules, so the case was referred to the Swiss Sports Tribunal (SST) for adjudication.
Following the proceedings, the SST concluded that the tennis player in question had failed in his fundamental duty of care when placing the online order, a duty he should have fulfilled given his long international sporting career and his awareness of anti-doping rules.
The SST then declared that the athlete had acted with gross negligence and suspended him for two years for possession and attempted use of a banned substance. The suspension is effective from January 30, 2026, the date of notification of the arbitration award, and applies to all sports disciplines and all positions within sports, worldwide. Furthermore, all results obtained by the athlete since the seizure of the submission on August 15, 2024, are nullified, and the athlete must pay half of the procedural costs, which amount to Sw. Frs. 375.
SSI continues to warn all athletes against the use of products presented as easy shortcuts or miracle cures for a perfect body. Even if these products are offered as harmless and can be conveniently purchased in online shops or via social media, they often contain prohibited and high-risk substances. To guard against any violation of anti-doping rules and to protect athletes’ own health, SSI strongly advises against their use.
We act for clients in anti-doping cases in Switzerland before the SST, and other tribunals, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport and in appeals to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, and further information is available from either Dr Lucien Valloni or Kim Gamboni by emailing them at valloni@valloni.ch or at gamboni@valloni.ch respectively.