DUBAI // Omar Behroozian, UAE tennis’s undisputed No 1, is convinced his Davis Cup teammate Hamad Janahi is not a drug cheat, but a victim of his own negligence for the failed dope test which has earned him a two-year ban.
The International Tennis Federation has announced that Janahi, 24, failed a doping test at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February, where he lost 6-0, 6-0 to Briton James Ward in the opening round of qualifying, and his 24-month ban will last until midnight May 27, 2017.
“It is a big blow,” said Behroozian. “I am totally shocked. It is a setback for UAE tennis, but a bigger setback for him personally.
“I am not sure if he is going to appeal, but he definitely did not take anything to enhance performance. He was negligent, but rules are rules. It is the responsibility of us players to know every substance that is banned. Hopefully, we will be more careful in the future.”
Janahi has been playing Davis Cup for the UAE since 2006 and has been part of the team for 38 ties, but he skipped the Group IV Asia-Oceania tournament in Bahrain last month, where the Emiratis reached the promotion playoffs but lost to Pacific Oceania.
Efforts to reach the player or officials of Tennis Emirates to comment on the suspension were in vain.
According to the statement released by the ITF, Janahi “provided a urine sample on February 21, 2015, in association with his participation in the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships event.
“That sample was sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis, and was found to contain a metabolite of methylphenidate and 1,3-dimethylbutylamine, which are Prohibited Substances under section S6(b) (Stimulants) of the 2015 WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, and are therefore also prohibited under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.
“Mr Janahi was therefore charged with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme and it was determined that he is suspended from participation for a period of two years, commencing on May 27, 2015.”
The ITF has also determined Janahi’s “results at the Dubai event should be disqualified, with resulting forfeiture of the ranking points and prize money that he won at those events”.
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