Tennis player Parikshit Somani banned for doping

Indian tennis player Parikshit Som has been suspended for four years after flunking a dope test during an ATP Challenger tournament in Astana last year. An independent tribunal of the international tennis integrity agency handed the player suspension.The 26-year-old Som, who reached a career-high doubles ranking of 256 in July 2023, tested positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine in Kazakhstan on July 31, 2025.Som was handed a provisional suspension on September 23, 2025."In February 2026, the player asserted that he had consumed food prepared , which had been contaminated ’s medicine during the food production process."This became the basis of Som’s explanation at a hearing before an independent tribunal on . Having considered expert scientific opinions presented , the independent tribunal concluded that the food contamination theories were 'scientifically implausible', 'highly speculative', and 'unconvincing'," said an ITIA release.The tribunal determined that Som had not established the source of the prohibited substance found in his sample, and therefore no mitigating circumstances apply.Time served under provisional suspension is credited against the sanction. As such, Som’s suspension will end on September 22, 2029.While suspended, Som is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events orgsed or sanctioned , WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited . It is published from a syndicated feed.)