The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Aleksei Mokrov, a 20-year-old Russian tennis player, has been suspended for a period of four years under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).
Mokrov contested the validity of their Adverse Analytical Finding for nandrolone, submitting that their November 2024 positive test for the prohibited substance should be dismissed as an unreliable sample, on the grounds that the World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory analysing the sample deviated from WADA’s International Standards for Laboratories.
The independent tribunal determined it was “entirely unpersuaded” by Mokrov’s argument, and that the player failed “by some margin” to prove the assertion. The tribunal also noted that Mokrov made no attempt to explain the source of the positive test. As such, the player did not prove that the breach was unintentional.
The ITIA sent the player a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation on 27 January 2025 under Article 2.1 of the TADP (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and/or Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)).
Mokrov, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1413 in April 2025, provided an in-competition sample while competing in an ITF World Tennis Tour M15 event in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on 26 November 2024.
The sample was split into A and B samples and the subsequent analysis found that both samples contained metabolites of Nandrolone, which is prohibited under the TADP, in the category of Anabolic Agents (section S 1.1 of the 2024 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List).
Nandrolone is a non-Specified substance, and Mokrov did not possess a valid TUE for the substance.
Findings for non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension – in Mokrov’s case, this has been in effect from 27 January 2025.
Mokrov denied the ADRV and requested a hearing, which was held remotely on 16 October 2025 before an independent tribunal - and a four-year period of ineligibility was imposed.
Results, prize money and ranking points from the event in which the player tested positive are forfeited, in addition to all subsequent events played by Mokrov between the date of their positive test and the imposition of their provisional suspension.
Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against the player’s period of ineligibility. Having been suspended since 27 January 2025, Mokrov’s suspension will end on 26 January 2029.
During the period of ineligibility, Mokrov is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.
The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of their professional tennis events.
To read the decision in full, click here.
Ends
Published 06 November 2025 12:00
