Australian tennis coach and former world No.39 Marinko Matosevic has been hit with a four-year ban for historical anti-doping offences between 2018 and 2020.
The 40-year-old, who revealed he was being investigated in February and called the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) process “corrupt and unjust”, was handed the ban for blood doping after he received a blood transfusion in Mexico while he was still competing in 2018.
Marinko Matosevic in 2016, towards the end of his playing career as a tennis pro.Credit: Fairfax Media
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the ITIA said Matosevic had also facilitated another player to blood dope, provided advice to other players on how to avoid positive tests, and for the use and possession of clenbuterol – a prohibited substance.
Matosevic may not coach or work with any player in any context during his four-year ban, may not compete, and is prohibited from attending any tennis event or activity of a member of the ITIA, such as ATP, WTA or Tennis Australia events, including the Australian Open.
He has been involved in coaching current Australian players Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson, an Australian Open wildcard who reached the second round at Melbourne Park in January. This masthead is not suggesting any wrongdoing involving O’Connell or Thompson.
The ITIA judgement said Matosevic initially denied the accusations when he was formally charged in May 2025, before admitting to blood doping in media comments shortly before his hearing was due to take place.
Marinko Matosevic in action during the 2015 Australian Open.Credit: Getty Images
“A hearing was scheduled to take place via video conference on 9 February 2026. In the weeks preceding the hearing, Matosevic ceased to engage with the arbitration process, before issuing a statement via media, making an admission to one blood doping charge,” the ITIA statement read.
“Matosevic elected not to attend the hearing despite multiple notifications, and the hearing took place as scheduled.
“On 16 March 2026, the independent tribunal chaired by Michael Heron KC upheld the above charges, issuing Matosevic with a four-year suspension, effective from the date of the written decision. One single charge for possession and use of clenbuterol pre-dating 2020 was dismissed by the independent tribunal due to lack of evidence, though it was noted to be likely.”
Matosevic will be made to hand back prize money from the Morelos and Indian Wells ATP Challenger events in February 2018.
He formally announced his retirement in November 2018, although he had unofficially retired earlier that year.
“Under desperate circumstances [I had some health issued in 2017], I stupidly and recklessly did a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico,” he said in his statement in February.
“I was so disgusted with myself, I retired the following week at the age of 32 and a half.”
In his February statement, Matosevic hit out at the ITIA’s investigation process and called for the current systems to be “dismantled”.
“They take your phone under threatening circumstances and make legal cases over photos and text message assumptions that are literally over 5 years old,” he said.
“The whole process is corrupt and lacks credibility, as we have seen over the last few years. These are man-made rules that get changed on a whim and to suit questionable objectives; they are not moral or right.”
Matosevic’s suspension will end on 15 March 2030, subject to repayment of outstanding prize money.
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