TENNIS/Tennis player Tsao Chia-yi voluntarily suspended after doping violation

Taipei, March 14 (CNA) Taiwanese tennis player Tsao Chia-yi (曹家宜) has accepted a voluntary provisional suspension after being notified of an anti-doping rule violation, pledging to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
In a statement posted on her Facebook page on Friday, Tsao explained that the prohibited substance was from medication she took for an illness during her hectic tournament schedule in late 2024.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) informed her of the violation on Feb. 20, she said.
In response, Tsao applied for a voluntary provisional suspension on March 1 while submitting relevant documents and is currently working with the ITIA to resolve the matter.
"I want to make it clear that I had no intention of enhancing my performance through drugs," the 21-year-old Tsao wrote, adding that she will continue training during the suspension while awaiting the results of the investigation.
"I will take this as a lesson and be more cautious in the future," she said.
Tsao's statement came two days after the ITIA announced her voluntary provisional suspension.
According to the ITIA, methylephedrine -- a stimulant classified as a prohibited substance -- was found in one of the two in-competition samples she provided during the WTA ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, on Jan. 1, 2025.
Although methylephedrine is listed as a "specified substance," meaning a provisional suspension is not mandatory, the ITIA noted that Tsao did not have a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for it.
Confirming her provisional suspension starting March 1, the ITIA said that any time served under suspension would be credited against any future sanction, if imposed.
Tsao reached a career-high world ranking of No. 115 in women's doubles in August 2024. She partnered with nine-time Grand Slam women's doubles champion Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
- Hsieh, Zhang advance to women's doubles quarterfinals at Indian WellsTaiwanese tennis player Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) and her doubles partner Zhang Shuai (張帥) of China dispatched their opponents 6-2, 6-3 in Indian Wells on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open.03/10/2025 01:23 PM
- Taiwan's tennis star Hsieh falls short in Dubai women's doubles finalTaiwanese tennis veteran Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) and her Latvian partner Jelena Ostapenko came up just short in the women's doubles final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday, falling 6-7(5), 4-6 to top-seeded Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend.02/23/2025 01:02 PM
- Taiwan's Hsieh falls just short in bid for 10th Grand Slam titleHsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) and partner Jelena Ostapenko put pressure on the top seeds in the Australian Open women's doubles final Sunday with a gritty comeback, but it was not enough to give Hsieh her 10th Grand Slam title.01/26/2025 06:56 PM
- Society
Taiwan-Matsu dual submarine cable telecommunication restored
03/14/2025 10:09 PM - Society
Cabinet plans rule limiting "fresh" label to Taiwan-produced milk
03/14/2025 09:47 PM - Society
Cold air mass may bring temperatures down to single digits next week
03/14/2025 08:56 PM - Politics
KMT discusses possible referendum on military tribunal revival
03/14/2025 08:15 PM - Business
Hon Hai expects AI server sales to top NT$1 trillion in 2025
03/14/2025 07:17 PM